Does the Air Force require an aircraft to have completed a number of development milestones before it can be "rolled-out"? Just wondering how they go about planning a roll-out and what drives the thinking behind the process.
US Military News, Reports, Data, etc.
- Thread starter tphuang
- Start date
Does the Air Force require an aircraft to have completed a number of development milestones before it can be "rolled-out"? Just wondering how they go about planning a roll-out and what drives the thinking behind the process.
I doubt they will make the rollout ceremony public for a long time. There is also little point in making an artificially early rollout for propaganda purposes. This program is not under threat of having its funds pulled and I think everyone realizes the importance of getting it right.
I was under the impression the rollout would be sort of the public unveiling. I believe they did that with the B-2 back in the day. I remember seeing a picture with stands set-up around the B-2 for a public viewing.
TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
it is public unveiling. B21 is in the White of DOD programs as such it’s very public in its progress and unveiling.
This differs from a Black or Grey. Black like the Stealth Hawk where the only reason we know of it is because of the Crash. We have no idea what it actually looks like or whom flys it. Or grey like the RQ170 where we know of it because of the crash but other public appearances have been allowed leading to it to be all but acknowledged,
This differs from a Black or Grey. Black like the Stealth Hawk where the only reason we know of it is because of the Crash. We have no idea what it actually looks like or whom flys it. Or grey like the RQ170 where we know of it because of the crash but other public appearances have been allowed leading to it to be all but acknowledged,
I think it's important to note that they expect NGAD to be ready by the end of this decade and that it has already entered EMD phase.
I presume the ones that flew in 2020 were the X planes. If we go by F-22 timeline, it started EMD in either 1991 or 1992 and the first EMD came out in 1997 and achieved IOC in 2004. F-35 winner was picked in 2001 and the first F-35A flew in 2006 and achieved IOC in 2016. Now, the F-35 program development was pretty ambitious in terms of ramp and production before IOC was achieved. In previous generations, they were able to go from picking a winner to getting first flight and then achieving IOC a lot sooner. For example, MD was picked as F-15 winner in 1969 and it joined service in 1976. Now, I would make the argument that is due to a combination of lower urgency during GWOT years and the greater complexity in modern aircraft. As such, I do think that USAF is making the same mistake of rushing a program through like they did with F-35. I think a 7 year development timeframe for NGAD is a little too optimistic. However, I also think they will get this right sooner than they did with F-22 and F-35. If I have to guess, I think a first flight around 2026/2027 is likely with IOC around 2032.
I presume the ones that flew in 2020 were the X planes. If we go by F-22 timeline, it started EMD in either 1991 or 1992 and the first EMD came out in 1997 and achieved IOC in 2004. F-35 winner was picked in 2001 and the first F-35A flew in 2006 and achieved IOC in 2016. Now, the F-35 program development was pretty ambitious in terms of ramp and production before IOC was achieved. In previous generations, they were able to go from picking a winner to getting first flight and then achieving IOC a lot sooner. For example, MD was picked as F-15 winner in 1969 and it joined service in 1976. Now, I would make the argument that is due to a combination of lower urgency during GWOT years and the greater complexity in modern aircraft. As such, I do think that USAF is making the same mistake of rushing a program through like they did with F-35. I think a 7 year development timeframe for NGAD is a little too optimistic. However, I also think they will get this right sooner than they did with F-22 and F-35. If I have to guess, I think a first flight around 2026/2027 is likely with IOC around 2032.
A Navy pilot was killed on Friday in a F/A-18E Super Hornet crash near the service’s test range at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Calif., Naval Air Forces announced on Friday.
The fighter, based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif., crashed at about 2:30 PM local time near the town of Trona.
“The pilot is confirmed deceased,” reads the statement.
“The identity of the pilot will not be released until 24 hours after the next of kin have been notified. Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake Federal Firefighters and Naval Security Forces are on site. No civilians were harmed in this incident.”
A spokesman said there were no other aircraft involved in the crash when contacted by USNI News on Friday.
The Navy uses the ranges in China Lake and area in nearby Death Valley for pilot training training
In October, an F/A-18F crashed in nearby Death Valley with the pilot sustaining minor injures. In 2020, an F/A-18E crashed in China Lake with the pilot surviving. In 2019, a pilot died in an F/A-18E died during a training flight in Death Valley.
The following is the complete June 3, 2022 statement from Naval Air Forces.
This afternoon at approximately 2:30 PM PDT, an F/A-18E Super Hornet based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif. crashed in the vicinity of Trona, Calif. The pilot is confirmed deceased. The identity of the pilot will not be released until 24 hours after the next of kin have been notified. Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake Federal Firefighters and Naval Security Forces are on site. No civilians were harmed in this incident. More information will be made available at the earliest opportunity.
