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

[Jeff Head]

re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

​

809 Naval Air Squadron, whose motto is simply ‘Immortal’, is to be reformed to operate the fifth-generation stealth aircraft that will fly from the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth Class carriers from 2018.

The Lightning II aircraft will be jointly operated by pilots from the Fleet Air Arm and the Royal Air Force .

Earlier this year, it was announced by the Chief of the Air Staff that the famous 617 ‘Dambusters’ Squadron would be the first RAF squadron to fly the jets.

Both Royal Navy and RAF pilots are already training on the Lightning II aircraft alongside the US Marine Corps at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.

809 Naval Air Squadron, which dates back to the Second World War, has been selected by the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir George Zambellas, because of its history of striking at the enemy in operations across the globe.

In previous incarnations, aircraft from the squadron supported an attack on Hitler’s flagship, supported the invasions of North Africa, Italy and southern France during the Second World War and saw action in Suez in 1956.

It was last reformed to support operations in the Falkland Islands; the squadron also flew the Navy’s last Buccaneer, a low-level strike bomber flown in the 1960s and 1970s.

Admiral Zambellas said:

“I am delighted to announce that the name of the second Lightning II squadron, when it forms, will be 809 Naval Air Squadron.

“This squadron number is chosen to link with and reflect the proud and distinguished history of embarked carrier strike, from the Second World War to the Falklands.

“The early naming of 809 alongside the RAF’s 617 ‘Dambusters’ Squadron is a very visible demonstration of a joint ambition, spirit of collaboration and shared equity in the Joint Lightning Force.”

When not at sea as part of the UK’s carrier strike force, the squadron will be based at RAF Marham in Norfolk.

The joint nature of the squadrons means naval personnel will serve with the Dambusters, and their Air Force counterparts will do likewise on 809 Naval Air Squadron.

Way to go UK!

 

[delft]

re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

A Dutch newspaper writes this morning that The Netherlands will buy as many 37 F-35's, and not 120, 85 or 56, numbers mentioned earlier. The government will announce it this afternoon together with the budget for the next year.

 

[Jeff Head]

re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

A Dutch newspaper writes this morning that The Netherlands will buy as many 37 F-35's, and not 120, 85 or 56, numbers mentioned earlier. The government will announce it this afternoon together with the budget for the next year.

What they budget for now, for their initial purchase, and what they end up buying overall in the long history that the F-35 is going to have are probably two different things. With severe budget issues now, of course they will buy considerably less. But those conditions ay well change over the next 25-35 years.

 

[thunderchief]

re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

Military budgets in Europe (especially Western Europe) are under constant pressure as these countries have a lot of problems (financial , demographic , cultural , moral ...) but none of them could be solved with military power . On the other hand , prospects for conventional military conflict are diminishing .

What this means for F-35 program ? Obviously it is too late to quit now , but it is safe to bet that European governments would like to spend as little as possible money on F-35 . In fact , many countries are planing to drastically reduce numbers of fighter squadrons and replace them with UCAVs . I don't think there will be many follow-up orders of F-35s after initial acquisition in Europe .

 

[Jeff Head]

re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

Military budgets in Europe (especially Western Europe) are under constant pressure as these countries have a lot of problems (financial , demographic , cultural , moral ...) but none of them could be solved with military power . On the other hand , prospects for conventional military conflict are diminishing .

What this means for F-35 program ? Obviously it is too late to quit now , but it is safe to bet that European governments would like to spend as little as possible money on F-35 . In fact , many countries are planing to drastically reduce numbers of fighter squadrons and replace them with UCAVs . I don't think there will be many follow-up orders of F-35s after initial acquisition in Europe .

Should they have the funds, they will buy more F-35s, particularly the partner nations like the UK, Italy, and the Netherlands.

No amount of UCAVs will be able to do what the F-35 can do.

 

[delft]

re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

Should they have the funds, they will buy more F-35s, particularly the partner nations like the UK, Italy, and the Netherlands.

No amount of UCAVs will be able to do what the F-35 can do.

My newspaper wrote yesterday that the total price is a given, EUR 4.5b, and that that number of aircraft might be as few as 34 or as many as 40, depending of the price per aircraft. As the only use would be support of a US action in Asia or Africa it is unlikely that any more aircraft will be bought. Also the reputation of the US is being seriously damaged by the activities of NSA, now especially the way the agreement of the European Parliament to providing information from the SWIFT payment system is being negated by continuing illegal direct access to the system.

 

[Jeff Head]

re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

My newspaper wrote yesterday that the total price is a given, EUR 4.5b, and that that number of aircraft might be as few as 34 or as many as 40, depending of the price per aircraft. As the only use would be support of a US action in Asia or Africa it is unlikely that any more aircraft will be bought. Also the reputation of the US is being seriously damaged by the activities of NSA, now especially the way the agreement of the European Parliament to providing information from the SWIFT payment system is being negated by continuing illegal direct access to the system.

i can understand how the Dutch feel about the NSA...here in the US many of us feel the same. This admin has not only allowed it, but encouraged it far beyond what was ever intended. That box should never have been open and we need leadership who will close it.

Just the same, as time goes on and conditions change, the Dutch may well see the need for more than 40 JSF aircraft.

Time will tell.

 

[FORBIN]

re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

Very interesting !

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

 

[delft]

re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

Indeed interesting. I see that the proportions of back up and attrition replacement aircraft is the same for the B and C models, while B is much more complex and will probably need more time in maintenance per flight hour and is likely to experience a higher attrition. These numbers looks hardly realistic.

 

[Jeff Head]

re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

Over on the J-31 thread, a lot of off topic discussion has gone on regarding the F-53 JSF. Particularly, lately regarding the 4 barrel 25mm gun carried internally on the F-35A.

​

The "B" and "C" models do not have the internal gun.

However, both cases, they are deigned to mount an under the fuselage, centerline mounted stealth pod with the same weapon.

​