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

[Jura The idiot]

I've now skimmed over
Why the Navy will deactivate an F-35 Squadron next year

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[Jura The idiot]

Jun 4, 2018
in reference to "Mission Data Files"
:

OK I'll leave it, this is not something one can find using google

now noticed the write-up of Mr. Osborne
F-35 combat missions now have operational ‘threat library’ of mission data files

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Published October 24

The Pentagon's F-35 is conducting attacks, surveillance operations and combat missions with an updated on-board “threat library” of Mission Data Files engineered to identify enemy threats in key regions around the globe.

“The AORs (Areas of Responsibility) for current operations where our forces are -- currently have adequate Mission Data Files,” Vice Adm. Mat Winter, Program Executive Officer for the F-35 program, told a group of reporters.

Described as the brains of the airplane, the "mission data files" are extensive on-board data systems compiling information on geography, air space and potential threats-- such as enemy fighter jets -- in areas where the F-35 might be expected to perform combat operations, Air Force officials explained.

Despite some delays with development, involving software engineering and technical development at Eglin AFB, Fla., the process is now fully on track to finish by 2019, Winter said.

Naturally, Air Force senior weapons developers do not comment on specific threats in specific areas around the globe, developers do acknowledge the threat library will include all known and future threat aircraft -- which of course includes advanced Chinese and Russian 5th-generation fighters. For security reasons, Air Force officials do not wish to confirm this or specify any kind of time frame for their inclusion.

Overall, there are 12 geographical regions being identified to comprise the library, service developers say.

“We have not fully verified all Mission Data Files for all of the regions where we will operate, but we are slated to be ready by 2019,” Winter said.

The mission data files are designed to work with the aircraft's Radar Warning Receiver engineered to find and identify approaching enemy threats and incoming hostile fire. The concept is to use the F-35s long range sensors to detect threats - and then compare the information against the existing library of enemy threats in real time while in flight. If this can happen at a favorable standoff range for the F-35, it will be able to identify and destroy enemy air-to-air targets before being vulnerable itself to enemy fire. For example, the mission data system may be able to quickly identify a Russian MiG-29 if it were detected by the F-35’s sensors.

“There is continued collaboration between intelligence and acquisition teams,” Winter said.

The Mission Data Files are intended to support the F-35’s sensor fusion so that information from disparate sensor systems can be combined on a single screen for pilots to lower the cognitive burden and quicken the decision-making process. New modules for mission systems will integrate into the F-35s Distributed Aperture System sensors and Electro-optical Targeting System.

The threat warnings generated by the F-35s Mission Data Files are designed to integrate with other on-board electronics such as targeting sensors. Much of this draws upon computer algorithms increasingly supported by AI, Winter said.

“Our fusion engine gets advanced sensors technology to rapidly identify and track targets without the pilot having to do all the work. This fusion is enabled by Mission Data Files,” Winter explained.

This concept regarding integrated threat warnings and the Missile Data Files is further reinforced in a Lockheed Martin engineering paper from early this year called “F-35 Mission Systems Design, Development and Verification.”

The paper provides technical detail on a number of F-35 technologies, including analysis of a system called AN/ASQ-242 Communications, Navigation and Identification system, or CNI. CNI provides beyond-visual-range target identification, anti-jam technology, radio navigation and, of great significance to Mission Data Files -- “warning messaging” and “pilot audio alerts.” Part of its function includes “connectivity with off-board sources of information,” a function which bears great relevance to identifying specific enemy aircraft at great distances.

While many developers cite significant challenges when it comes to software development and integration for the F-35, the fighter is widely regarded as a “flying computer.” The “fusion” or technical integration on board the aircraft is engineered to access and leverage a wide range of data points and condense them for the pilot. In essence, surveillance, computer processing and targeting data are fused, as opposed to being stovepiped or separate sources. As a result, the technology also incorporates Identification Friend Foe (IFF) surveillance systems designed to quickly distinguish friendly from enemy aircraft.

The Pentagon is improving Mission Data File technology, in part, through an ongoing mission systems avionics upgrade, industry and military developers said.

It is part of a tech refresh effort for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter that improves memory, storage, processing speed, display video and aircraft parametric data, industry developers said.

Lockheed Martin has been working with Harris Corporation to provide the computing infrastructure for new panoramic cockpit displays, advanced memory systems and navigation technology, senior Harris officials said in written statements.

The new hardware and software technology, to be operational on the F-35 by 2021, includes seven racks per aircraft consisting of 1,500 module components, including new antennas and weapons release systems.

Some of the components include an Advanced Memory System (AMS) engineered to improve data storage and generate higher resolution imagery to help pilots with navigational and targeting information.

Faster processors will also improve F-35 delivery of weapons enabled by the latest 3F software drop, such as the AIM-9X air-to-air missile. Improved radar warning receiver technology will more quickly identify enemy aircraft and integrate with the aircraft’s mission data files, or threat library.

The data processing increase is exponential, developers explain, as it enables measurements to take place in terabytes instead of megabits or megabytes.

The upgrades include a portable memory device which can quickly be transferred from a ground station to the F-35 cockpit.

While Air Force officials said that Mission Data File information on particular enemy platforms and specific global threat areas was naturally not available for security reasons, she did say the technology is now supporting the latest F-35 software configuration - called 3f.

"Mission data has been fielded in support of version 2B, 3i, and 3f," Air Force spokeswoman Emily Grabowski told Warrior earlier this year.

As the most recently implemented software upgrade, Block 3f increases the weapons delivery capacity of the JSF, giving it the ability to drop a Small Diameter Bomb, 500-pound JDAM and AIM 9X short-range air-to-air missile, service officials explained.

The Air Force is already working on a 4th drop to be ready by 2020 or 2021. Following this initial drop, the aircraft will incorporate new software drops in two year increments in order to stay ahead of the threat. The service is also working to massively quicken the pace of software upgrades as a way to respond quickly to new threats.

Block IV will include some unique partner weapons including British weapons, Turkish weapons and some of the other European country weapons that they want to get on their own plane, service officials explained.

Block IV will also increase the weapons envelope for the U.S. variant of the fighter jet. A big part of the developmental calculus for Block 4 is to work on the kinds of enemy air defense systems and weaponry the aircraft may face from the 2020’s through the 2040’s and beyond.

In terms of weapons, Block IV will eventually enable the F-35 to fire cutting edge weapons systems such as the Small Diameter Bomb II and GBU-54 – both air dropped bombs able to destroy targets on the move.

The Small Diameter Bomb II uses a technology called a “tri-mode” seeker, drawing from infrared, millimeter wave and laser-guidance. The combination of these sensors allows the weapon to track and eliminate moving targets in all kinds of weather conditions.

The emerging 4th software drop will build upon prior iterations of the software for the aircraft.

Block 2B builds upon the enhanced simulated weapons, data link capabilities and early fused sensor integration of the earlier Block 2A software drop. Block 2B will enable the JSF to provide basic close air support and fire an AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile), JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) or GBU-12 (laser-guided aerial bomb) JSF program officials said.

Following Block 2B, Block 3i increases the combat capability even further and the now operational 3F brings a vastly increased ability to suppress enemy air defenses.

 

[gelgoog]

@Jura

The US Navy is probably moving those aircraft because of the damage done to Florida in the last hurricane season. Since F-35C numbers are more limited they decided to move those to a safer location. But allegedly the USAF is moving the more numerous F-35A variant to Florida so...

 

[Jura The idiot]

@Jura

The US Navy is probably moving those aircraft because of the damage done to Florida in the last hurricane season. Since F-35C numbers are more limited they decided to move those to a safer location. But allegedly the USAF is moving the more numerous F-35A variant to Florida so...

did you refer to Today at 1:28 PM

I've now skimmed over
Why the Navy will deactivate an F-35 Squadron next year

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?

I now looked into that article again; sounds like paperwork to me

 

[TerraN_EmpirE]

@Jura

The US Navy is probably moving those aircraft because of the damage done to Florida in the last hurricane season. Since F-35C numbers are more limited they decided to move those to a safer location. But allegedly the USAF is moving the more numerous F-35A variant to Florida so...

The USAF plans to reopen Tyndal at some point in the near future. The base will however be then F35 centric.

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The Navy move has different rational.
Tyndal will likely be rebuilt to a higher standard than before.

did you refer to Today at 1:28 PM

?

I now looked into that article again; sounds like paperwork to me

This report is different.
Basically the Navy is consolidating F35C training to the west coast. The squadron in question is the training squadron for F35C which is based on the east coast.
This was done because the USAF had F35A models already and invested in the training infrastructure there. So to save time they basically piggy backed into the USAF training.
Now the Navy has there own infrastructure in California ready to go so they are closing the Florida ops for now and shutting down the squadron as they orient to building operational squadrons for the F35C fleet introduction.

 

[Jura The idiot]

in case you didn't know
F-35 fighters arrive on Australian soil

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The first two Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighters to be permanently based in Australia arrived at RAAF Base Williamtown, north of Sydney, on December 10.

The aircraft are the ninth and tenth jets to be delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the first eight are temporarily flying with the U.S. Air Force’s 61st Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base Arizona, as part of the international F-35 training school. The RAAF has 72 F-35As on order and it will decide whether to acquire a further 28 aircraft in the next decade.

The two aircraft had been delivered to the RAAF at Luke in September and October and delivered to Williamtown via Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii and RAAF Base Amberley, south-east of Brisbane.

The pair were flown on the final leg of the journey by the commanding officer of No. 3 Squadron, Wing Commander Darren Clare and Squadron Leader Red Borrman. No. 3 Squadron is the first Australian F-35 squadron.

A formal welcoming ceremony at Williamtown, which will be home to the majority of Australian F-35As, was attended by dignitaries including Australia Minister for Defence Christopher Pyne, Minister for Defence Industry Steve Ciobo, Lockheed Martin CEO Marillyn Hewson and Chief of the Royal Australian Air Force, Air Marshal ‘Leo’ Davies.

“Today marks a very important day for the Australian Defence Force and particularly the Royal Australian Air Force,” Davies said.

“Welcome to the latest chapter of the F-35 story, the most significant Royal Australian Air Force acquisition in our 97-year history," he continued. "The two aircraft that landed here today mark the latest step in an exciting journey for Air Force, which has been over 16 years in the making.”

Davies also quoted his predecessor in the top role, Air Marshal Geoff Brown, when he said, “The Joint Strike Fighter replaces nothing, but changes everything; it requires a new way of thinking and a new way of operating.”

In the Australian context the F-35A is replacing the 71 surviving McDonnel Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18A/B ‘Classic’ Hornets, which entered service in 1985. Australia became a Tier 3 partner in the international Joint Strike Fighter program in 2002.

“The F-35 is not just a 5th generation fighter, with speed and agility and advanced information systems, it is a catalyst for transforming us into a 5th generation fighting force,”Davies added. “An integrated Australian Defence Force is greater than the sum of its parts and the F-35 has been a driver for this change. So today ladies and gentlemen, the naysayers can take a seat.”

The two aircraft will now conduct a period of verification and validation testing to ensure they are compatible with local ICT systems and infrastructure – including Australia’s sovereign version of the F-35’s Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS). Together with further deliveries of aircraft, this work will conclude with the initial operational capability (IOC) milestone, scheduled at the end of 2020.

Two more aircraft will be delivered to Williamtown in April 2019 and eight aircraft will have been delivered by the end of the year. The Hornet is due to be retired by the end of 2023.

Defence Minister Pyne described the F-35 program as the largest air force acquisition project in Australia’s history. “The government is investing over $17 billion [U.S. $12.27] to acquire at least 72 Joint Strike Fighters,” he said.

“The Joint Strike Fighter is the largest acquisition in the history of the Royal Australian Air Force and is a key part of the Government’s $200 billion build up in Defence capability.”

 

[Jura The idiot]

Sep 29, 2018

Yesterday at 3:39 PM
while now, LOL

"Notably, the $80 million per unit figure cited by Lockheed Martin does not include initial development or upgrade costs, the so-called Continuous Capability Development and Delivery programme."

inside
Lockheed Martin F-35A price dips below $90m for first time

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and in the discussion below

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even (it's

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)

"... That's only the airframe, not the engine which is procured separately by the government GFE. Lockheed does not buy the engine.

So first of all the URF cost doesn't cover the cost of the engine, it's only Lockheed's (fictional) cost of manufacturing the airframe. The URF does not include the support and training equipment, technical data, initial spare parts or even the gas and lubricants to make an F-35 useable. It also does not include the upgrades and fixes that testing and other flying experience reveals to be needed. ..."

so?

and "The Lot 11 F-35A unit price, including aircraft, engine and fee, is $89.2 million; ..."
Head of F-35 Joint Program Office: Stealth fighter enters the new year in midst of a growing phase

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[Jura The idiot]

Saturday at 7:10 PM

Jun 4, 2018
in reference to "Mission Data Files"
:

now noticed the write-up of Mr. Osborne
F-35 combat missions now have operational ‘threat library’ of mission data files

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Published October 24

and "Mission Data Files" again (dated December 6, 2018):
The F-35 Is About to Get A Lot Smarter

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A California company is looking to accelerate the Defense Department’s embrace of artificial intelligence, starting with some of its most important aircraft.

War in the 21st century runs on data, a lot of it in the case of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The

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that inform F-35 deployments and missions can take up to 18 months to compile, bringing in info on everything from enemy radar and anti-aircraft missiles to waveforms and cyber weapons. Now the Pentagon has hired a California company to shrink that compilation time to just one month, using artificial intelligence.

The company,

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, sees itself as a sort of AI tailor, stitching together different methodologies — from simple

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to more sophisticated

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—and combining heterogeneous forms of data that don’t play well together—from images to diagnostic valuations to text—into products that are specific to the problem. Some might be heavier on deep learning, some on machine, in which case the company works to accelerate the laborious task of data labeling.

They’ve been quietly doing business with the Defense Department for 15 months, after an initial outreach from the Defense Innovation Unit. Already they’re involved in nine projects, mostly related to

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for aircraft such as the

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, the

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, the

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and soon, the F-35, predicting when a part or computer system might fail on the basis of weather, deployment, mission, the age and condition of its components, and so forth.

Of course, the F-35 already has an onboard diagnostic system,

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, or ALIS. Nikhil Krishnan, C3’s vice president for products, said their software won’t replace ALIS, or anything that Lockheed Martin or its F-35 subcontractors have already built. Instead, it aims to combine information from those sources to create a better, fuller picture of what’s going on with the plane.

Beside ALIS, Krishnan said, C3’s software will devour “operational data, sorties, it could include weather, the history of the part, was there repair work done on it before? We’re really on a higher level than any of these subsystems, including ALIS.” The hope is to be able to preposition parts and maintainers to make fast repairs or modifications not only in response to what the plane has been through but, perhaps, what it’s about to go through as well.

All that is separate from C3’s work on Mission Date File optimization, which is set to complete development next summer. The file serves as a sort of

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“It’s the data on board that proactively notifies the pilot of the aircraft of upcoming threats. The problem today is that it takes way too long to actually generate that Mission Data File. We can apply the data aggregation capabilities that C3 has and AI to make that process an order of magnitude faster so the data are more current,” said Edward Abbo, C3’s President and CTO.

The process today is heavily manual, largely because the data sources and types are so diverse. “The analyst today would have to go data source by data source and then, within data source, data field by data field, looking, for instance, to see if this database here has this field for an object in the theatre,” explained Krishnan. Much of the data is highly unstructured, such as comments in text, that software doesn’t work well with. The hope is to automate the process of looking through sources and present the operator with a list of problems, such as potential discrepancies in the intelligence, and recommendations.

The company is also developing a new AI-based tool for gathering intelligence on potential targets. It’s similar to what Google was doing for the Pentagon under Project Maven, but with a boost. Whereas the focus of Maven was applying AI to recognizing objects in images, the new project, in development, would integrate a variety of data from diverse sources to construct a fuller picture, similar to the way the brain works to combine sensory input with lived experience and intuition in order to create an understanding of what’s going on.

“Let’s say you’re looking for a Toyota Corolla on the freeway [and] you have streaming video. We’re doing two things, analyzing the video for object identification and classification and then the second is contextualizing that information,” said Abbo. “Was a Toyota Corolla spotted by someone else five minutes ago?… That information can be added to the fact that you just spotted that Toyota Corolla now, and you can determine it’s the same one based on speed or other factors.” The objective is predictive battlefield tracking. Right now, battle field tracking is “a very isolated set of observations if you will. But if you could aggregate those observations together you would have a much better sense of predicting where someone might be going.”

Abbo wouldn’t say what branch or service of the military hired C3 for the intelligence project, but the effort bears a lot of resemblance to what

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were doing with the special operations community.

Of course, one thing that the company can’t solve for is the bigger problems confronting officials looking to more fully embrace AI for defense and intelligence. Neural networks often outperform machine learning solutions but

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for legal and policy purposes. The second is the data

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, where bad data can throw off good models and skew results, a life-or-death situation in the case of military intelligence.

Fixing that remains very much a human problem.

 

[Jura The idiot]

noticed inside
Japan to spend more than USD240 billion on defence over next five years

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:
"Defence officials also pointed out that Japan will stop using a final assembly and check-out (FACO) facility for the country’s F-35As from FY 2019 and start buying completed F-35As and F-35Bs to reduce procurement costs."

 

[Jura The idiot]

Nov 10, 2018

May 19, 2018...
Italy signals slowdown on F-35 orders

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while now
Italian government praise for F-35 shows early doubts waning

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Italy’s populist government has given its clearest sign yet that it is firmly backing the F-35, following early pledges to scrap the program by the Five Star party, one of two parties making up Rome’s governing coalition.

“It is obvious we cannot deprive our Air Force of a great air capability that puts us ahead of many other countries,” said junior defense minister Angelo Tofalo during a speech in Italy’s parliament this week.

Tofalo is a member of the Five Star party, which formed a governing coalition in June this year with the League party after courting votes with its condemnation of the fighter program.

Last year, the party said it would cancel Italy’s plans to buy 131 aircraft.

Since taking office, the new government’s defense minister Elisabetta Trenta — who was tapped for office by the Five Star party — has said the government will consider slowing down orders, rather than cancelling the program.

Last month, a government source told Defense News Italy would buy six or seven aircraft in the next five years instead of the previous plan to buy around ten.

Tofolo’s statement took the positive appraisal of the F-35 one step further.

“We have talked about the F-35 for many years in Italy, often in a distorted way, whereas you often need to really know and evaluate information,” he said.

“The F-35 program is now moving, and is 20 years old, and contrary to what is often said it is an aircraft which surely has the benefit of optimum technology, maybe the best in the world at this time,” he added.

Italy has so far taken delivery of 10 F-35As and one F-35B, which were assembled at the country’s final assembly line in Cameri, northern Italy. The Italian aircraft based at Amendola air base have totalled 2,000 flying hours, and in a first for Europe the fledgeling fleet were given Initial Operating Capability status on Nov. 30.