F-35 Joint Strike Fighter News, Videos and pics Thread

[FORBIN]

USN First Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) test by F35C on 23 March

An AGM-154 interesting.




For LACM F-35 can carry internaly this one do 4.1 m long x 0.33 m max range 130 km but no AGM-158 or SLAM/ER used by USAF and Navy for very few this two 4.27/4.37 m long and up to 4.2 x 064 mm fit in the A/C weapons bay, 3.85 x 0.64 m for B i have.

Then normaly F-35 can carry these two missiles only externaly no in stealth missions.

Except AGM-154 two others misiles can fit internaly normaly for Block 4/2021 : Norwegian JSM and Turkish SOM have a more long range also NSM anti-ships maybe SOM ?

For F-35B different as i have mentionned in more USMC use mainly her fighters-bombers for support troops, A2A combat also ofc and few for interdiction/deep strikes it is not the missions of her aircrafts and they don' t get in stock LACM, AGM-158/SLAM-ER and also Harpoon

Notes : however definitely USMC F-18 adapted for Harpoon especialy the 4 Sqns regurlalry embarked on CVN maybe also SLAM-ER.

 

[Brumby]

Excerpts taken from a 22/3/2016 Australian Senate enquiry on the F-35 program. One of the expert witness is Mr. Brown, a retired Australian Air Marshall and some of his comments :

 

[Brumby]

F-35I C4 software enters production

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The command software system for the Israeli air force’s (IAF) new Lockheed Martin F-35I Adir combat aircraft has entered production following completion of the development and testing phase.

The command, control, communications and computer (C4) system is being developed by Israel Aerospace Industries’ Lahav division, which announced on 3 April it had completed the system definition, prototyping and testing phases ahead of production.

IAI says generic communications infrastructure is used in the C4 system that is based on software-defined radio technology, adding to an airborne communications network that will “dramatically improve over legacy systems”, namely the Lockheed F-16 and Boeing F-15.

IAI also says the C4 system’s open architecture introduces a “new level of freedom” for the IAF, as it paves the way for additional capabilities to be embedded in the F-35I in future.

“This cutting edge avionic system represents an ‘operational quantum leap’ in the capability of air power to conduct networked-centric air warfare,” Benni Cohen, general manager of the Lahav division, says. “It is part of a major change that takes place once in a decade, which includes the upgrading of fourth generation systems.

“This programme will be critical to our national security as it represents a shift in air forces’ concepts of operations and operational capabilities.”

The Israelis seem to be able to get things done quickly. No horsing around.

 

[dtulsa]

They don't have the beurocasy that we do I wish we didn't either

 

[Inst]

I guess you're not allowed to bash the F-35 here, are you?

@advill: The F-35 subcontractors already got hacked by the Chinese.

Regarding the F-35's capabilities; it's highly stealthy, but it's more of a light bomber and a strike fighter than an air superiority aircraft, which both the J-20 and PAK-FA are. Most of the sensor advantages in the F-35 are replicated in the J-20, and the PAK-FA has a significant maneuverability advantage. The F-35 does have certain advantages; its small profile makes it more resistant to IR tracking, and it has a comprehensive countermeasures suite, as well as a state-of-the-art AESA. Yet its lack of speed and maneuverability limits its flexibility; it has to trust its countermeasures and its weapon systems, and if those are bypassed or otherwise fail, it's a sitting duck.

 

[Air Force Brat]

F-35I C4 software enters production

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The Israelis seem to be able to get things done quickly. No horsing around.

That's right, they love their country, and realize they are in an "existential struggle" with evil, violent malefactors, who must be destroyed.

The ignorant BHO team and their sycophants at the Dem and Republican Establishment "hog troughs" hasn't gotten the message, and will never "get the message" until its to late. No doubt it complicates the mission of those whose love for this country is what drives them to sacrifice their own dreams and desires to stand in the gap and protect her?

 

[Air Force Brat]

I guess you're not allowed to bash the F-35 here, are you?

@advill: The F-35 subcontractors already got hacked by the Chinese.

Regarding the F-35's capabilities; it's highly stealthy, but it's more of a light bomber and a strike fighter than an air superiority aircraft, which both the J-20 and PAK-FA are. Most of the sensor advantages in the F-35 are replicated in the J-20, and the PAK-FA has a significant maneuverability advantage. The F-35 does have certain advantages; its small profile makes it more resistant to IR tracking, and it has a comprehensive countermeasures suite, as well as a state-of-the-art AESA. Yet its lack of speed and maneuverability limits its flexibility; it has to trust its countermeasures and its weapon systems, and if those are bypassed or otherwise fail, it's a sitting duck.

Why don't you put aside your desire to join the bashers, and attempt to understand what the F-35 brings to the fight?? We face a formidable existential threat, a threat that only fifth gen aircraft will be able to meet, by being stealthy, and reducing emmisions, they are NOT going to be running, they will be quietly selecting targets, and prosecuting them with assets which are not necessarily on the targeting aircraft.

Sensor Fusion will give every "friendly asset on the battlefield" an awareness of the bad guys, where they are, and like the Indians on the top of the bluff an advantage of surprise and "cover", and yes I am part Cherokee.

 

[Brumby]

Most of the sensor advantages in the F-35 are replicated in the J-20,

I can agree to a statement that the Chinese have replicated look alike sensors onto the J-20. However a statement that the sensor advantages in the F-35 are replicated would suggest a comparable qualitative technological achievement. Such a statement would warrant some form of evidence. Do you have them?

its small profile makes it more resistant to IR tracking

Frankly my understanding of IR and reduction features are limited. However a correlation between profile sizing and IR tracking is new to me. Can you please explain the IR science behind such a statement.

 

[FORBIN]

USN First Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) test by F35C on 23 March

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II will soon count Raytheon's AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) among its list internally carried munitions after “cleanly” releasing the 475kg (1,050lb) inert glide bomb during a trial off the coast of Maryland.

The drop test on 23 March by the Naval Air Station Patuxent River-based CF-05 test aircraft is the first of many that will take place in 2016 to qualify the bomb for use by the stealthy combat jet.

US Navy
Until now, the F-35 has only released satellite-guided Mk80-series bombs equipped with Boeing Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) tail kits from its internal weapons bay. Equipping the aircraft with a “standoff” glide bomb allows it to hit threatening targets, like anti-aircraft missiles, from safer distances.

“The addition of this guided glide bomb equips the F-35 Lightning II with a medium-range, all-weather weapon capable of engaging targets from further vantage points well out of range of typical enemy anti-aircraft and counter-air defences,” the US Navy says in a statement on 1 April. “This lethality and survivability delivers a decisive advantage over adversaries.”

According to Raytheon, JSOW can strike targets 22km (12nm) away when released from an altitude of 500ft, or 130km (70nm) when released at 40,000ft. JDAMs, meanwhile, can hit targets up to 28km (15nm) away, depending on the speed and altitude of its release.

By comparison, the Russian SA-2 surface-to-air missile system can target aircraft within a 43km radius, and the mobile SA-6 can reach out 26km. More powerful Russian missile systems like the SA-10 (S-300) and SA-21 (S-400) have ranges approaching 150km and 431km, respectively, according to a report by the Mitchell Institute.

JSOW will come standard in the F-35 Block 3F configuration, and must be qualified for use by the navy's first combat-coded F-35C squadron at the time it declares initial operational capability (IOC) in 2018.

Other Block 3F-specific weapons include the Boeing Small Diameter Bomb as well as the MBDA AIM-132 Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) and Raytheon UK Paveway IV for the Royal Air Force.

ASRAAM units were recently shipped to the USA for F-35 testing and the 227kg (500lb) Paveway IV was first dropped from a B-model in June.

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[Brumby]

By comparison, the Russian SA-2 surface-to-air missile system can target aircraft within a 43km radius, and the mobile SA-6 can reach out 26km. More powerful Russian missile systems like the SA-10 (S-300) and SA-21 (S-400) have ranges approaching 150km and 431km, respectively, according to a report by the Mitchell Institute.

It is estimated that the F-35 with its VLO profile would be detectable at around 40nm. The standoff distance of the JSOW from an effective range of 70 nm would ensure it out ranges even the S-400.