F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF)

[CougarKing]

Lockheed Martin announces Roketsan teaming on new F-35 standoff missile

[IHS Jane's 360] - 22 October 2014

Lockheed Martin and Roketsan have signed an agreement to develop a 1,000-lb-class air-to-surface standoff cruise missile for internal carriage on the stealthy Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, the companies announced on 22 October.

The SOM-J will be co-developed and co-produced by Turkey's Roketsan and the United States' Lockheed Martin for integration onto the Turkish Air Force (TAF) F-35, a Lockheed Martin spokeswoman told IHS Jane's . She described the SOM-J as an "autonomous, long-range, low-observable, all-weather, precision air-to-surface cruise missile".

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control Executive vice-president Rick Edwards and Roketsan chairman of the board Eyüp Kaptan signed the standoff missile (SOM) teaming agreement, the companies said in a statement.

Artist's rendering of an F-35A with Turkish markings. Turkish industry is developing a new SOM for the aircraft along with F-35 prime contractor Lockheed Martin. Source: Lockheed Martin

 

[CougarKing]

Note the underlined portion.

Military.com

Navy Readies for First F-35C Carrier Landing

Stars and Stripes | Oct 24, 2014 | by Jennifer Hlad
ABOARD THE USS NIMITZ -- Before the Navy’s oldest active aircraft carrier docks for a 16-month maintenance period, it’s helping other ships get ready for deployment, and next month, will host the first landing of the F-35C on a carrier.

The Marine version of the Joint Strike Fighter, the short-takeoff, vertical-landing F-35B, has made successful landings aboard ships at sea. But the Navy’s version, the F-35C, which is designed to land on carriers, has not — in part because of problems with the tail hook.

The landing test will take place on the Nimitz after the conclusion of the current task group exercise, which began Monday off San Diego and includes U.S. guided missile cruisers and guided missile destroyers as well as four Canadian ships and a Yokosuka-based Japanese ship.

(...SNIPPED)

 

[CougarKing]

The next batch:

Defense News

Lockheed, Pentagon Agree on Eighth F-35 Lot
Oct. 27, 2014 - 07:34PM  |  By AARON MEHTA

  WASHINGTON — Lockheed Martin has reached an agreement with the Pentagon to procure the eighth lot of F-35 joint strike fighters, including the first stealthy jets for Israel and Japan.

The agreement for low-rate initial production (LRIP) lot eight covers 43 production models, according to a press release issued jointly by the company and the F-35 joint program office (JPO). The contract is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks, with production beginning in 2016.

The LRIP 8 contract covers 19 conventional F-35A models for the US Air Force, six of the jump-jet F-35B variants for the US Marine Corps, and four of the carrier-variant F-35C models for the US Navy.

Internationally it includes the first two F-35As for Israel, the first four F-35As for Japan, two F-35As for Norway and two F-35As for Italy. Additionally, the United Kingdom will receive four F-35B models under the agreement.

(...SNIPED)

 

[MarkOttawa]

More LRIP 8, US FY 2014 (actually started Oct. 1. 2013)--note engines not included:

The U.S. Department of Defense and Lockheed Martin have reached an agreement in principle for the production of 43 F-35 Lightning II aircraft. Officials anticipate the Low-Rate Initial Production lot 8 (LRIP 8) contract to be finalized in the coming weeks. The contract is for fiscal year 2014 [started Oct. 1, 2013] with deliveries beginning in 2016.

Cost details will be released once the contract is finalized; however, in general, the average unit price for all three variants of the airframe  [emphasis added] in LRIP 8 is approximately 3.6 percent lower than the previous contract…

The LRIP 8 contract procures 29 U.S. aircraft including 19 F-35As, six F-35Bs and four F-35Cs. It also provides for the production of the first two F-35As for Israel, the first four F-35As for Japan along with two F-35As for Norway and two F-35As for Italy. The United Kingdom will receive four F-35Bs. The contract also funds manufacturing-support equipment as well as ancillary mission equipment…
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/news/press-releases/2014/october/dod-and-lockheed-martin-announce-principle-agreement-on-purchase-of-f-35s_141027ae.html

AvWeek:

Lockheed, Pentagon Agree On Latest F-35 Production Lot

The Pentagon’s latest handshake with F-35 prime contractor Lockheed Martin for the next batch of 43 of the single-engine, stealthy fighters comes as the program’s Joint Program Office (JPO) continues to slowly implement a fix to engines in its test fleet.

Low-rate, initial production (LRIP) lot 8 pricing will be released once the final contract details are firm, according to a statement from F-35 spokeswoman Kyra Hawn. The price for each of the three F-35 variants is roughly 3.6% less expensive than in LRIP 7; this should put the cost of an F-35A in LRIP 8 at about $93.3 million, an F-35B at $100.5 million and an F-35C at $111.1 million...

The LRIP 8 deal with Lockheed comes on the heels of the government’s announced agreement with engine prime manufacturer Pratt & Whitney for the LRIP 7 batch of F135 engines. The price of the 36 engines in that deal is $18.8 million [each], including the more expensive F-35B propulsion system used for short takeoff and vertical landings on that specialized variant. The total cost for LRIP 7 engines is about $943 million, the program office said...

This should bring production rates up over next few years and costs down--perhaps at some point when Canada might actually buy

Israel to buy 25 more F-35 Lockheed stealth fighters: sources

Israel plans to buy a second batch of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 stealth fighter jets, bringing the total number it has on order to about 44, Israeli defence sources said on Tuesday.

Israel bought 19 F-35s for $2.75 billion in 2010, a deal that included options for up to 75 of the planes. Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon, visiting the United States last week, placed a preliminary order for about 25 more F-35s, defence sources said without elaborating on the cost.

The first batch of planes is scheduled to arrive in Israel between 2016 and 2018, the sources said, noting that the second purchase needs final approval by an Israeli government panel.

The U.S. embassy in Israel had no immediate comment.

Washington gives Israel some $3 billion in annual defence grants, most of which it spends on U.S. products. Israeli companies, including Elbit Systems Ltd. and state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), are contributing technologies to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/28/us-israel-defence-lockheed-martin-idUSKBN0IH14T20141028

Mark
Ottawa

 

[CougarKing]

Another delay?

Military.com

A-10’s Delayed Retirement Threatens to Push Back F-35 Program

rogram officials warned Thursday that the operational readiness dates for the Air Force and Marine Corps F-35 fighter planes may be behind schedule due to testing delays, maintenance staffing problems and incomplete mission data packages.

The Air Force’s inability to convince Congress that it needs to retire the A-10 Warthog is further complicating the process. Maintainers that the Air Force had planned to move to the F-35 program may no longer be available, said Lt. Gen. Christopher Bogdan, the F-35 program manager.

The Marine Corps has planned to introduce the F-35B into the fleet on July 1, 2015. The Air Force has planned to similarly announce the F-35A’s initial operating capability on Aug. 1, 2016.

(...SNIPPED)

 

[MarkOttawa]

Looking to the future, could help price for a Canadian buy; note final para and huge contribution foreign sales are to make in production ramp-up over next few years.  At Defense News, usual copyright disclaimer:

F-35 Heading Toward Block Buy

Every year, the Pentagon and its corporate partners hash out contracts for individual low-rate initial production (LRIP) lots of the F-35 joint strike fighter. If the man running the program has his say, those days are numbered.

With the negotiations over LRIP 8 at a conclusion, Lt. Gen. Chris Bogdan, the head of the F-35 joint program office, is planning on negotiating LRIP 9 and 10 together. And come LRIP 11, he wants a whole new model of procurement in place.

“By next summer we will put out a request for proposal on LRIP 11 jets,” Bogdan told reporters Thursday. “That RFP will ask Lockheed to do a block buy for our partners. At least, that is my intention.”..

A number of partner nations have already committed to large procurements of the fifth-generation stealthy jet, so bundling their orders together is just logical, Bogdan said.

“If you were to take their requirements and put them together, you could actually have a substantial number of airplanes, starting in LRIP 11 and spanning LRIP 11, 12 and 13, bought as a block of airplanes, almost as if it was a multi-year [buy] for the US,” he said.

Participation in a block buy would be open to all international partners or foreign military sales customers who are interested, and Bogdan said he expects “substantial savings” for those involved.

But while a block buy could benefit international partners, the US would not be able to participate in such a buy due to acquisition rules barring a multi-year procurement until the jet enters full-rate production.

In other words, the United States would be paying more per F-35 model than a country such as, for argument’s sake, South Korea, which has pledged to procure 40 F-35A fighters through foreign military sales.

…The US is by far the largest customer for the F-35 program, and while a block buy of international customers will lead to savings, the greatest savings possible would come from getting the US on a multi-year once the program enters full-rate production…

…The current plan calls for the three US services to buy 34 of 57 total planes in LRIP 9, 55 of 96 total planes in LRIP 10 and 68 of 121 total planes in LRIP 11…
http://www.defensenews.com/article/20141031/DEFREG02/310310028/F-35-Heading-Toward-Block-Buy

Plus:

Air Force F-35 IOC May Be In Peril; Pratt, DoD Shake On $1B F135 Deal
http://breakingdefense.com/2014/10/air-force-f-35-ioc-may-be-in-peril-pratt-dod-shake-on-1b-f135-deal/

Mark
Ottawa

 

[YZT580]

It was in my head that all A-10s had gone to Air Force reserve squadrons who have their own mechanics.  I haven't seen anything to suggest that those folks were being activated to provide maintenance for the F35.  Seems more like they are fishing for either more cash or desperately trying to axe the warthog.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

The USAF only real enemies is the Congress and the Senate. That where the real war is.

 

[CougarKing]

China's twin-engined copy of the F-35, which they dubbed the J-31 "Falcon Eagle", will have its official unveiling on Nov.11 at this year's Zhuhai Airshow.

 

[Kirkhill]

F-35C Completes First Arrested Landing Aboard Aircraft Carrier
http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/158551/f_35c-makes-first-carrier-landing.html

Video at the link




San Diego Tribune reported it as a pair of 3-wire traps.
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/nov/03/f35-nimitz-aircraft-carrier-test-landing-takeoff/

 

[MarkOttawa]

And not a program partner:

IAI inaugurates F-35 wing production line

Israel Aerospace Industries to build more than 800 pairs of wings for F-35 stealth fighter jet over the next decade • At production line's inauguration ceremony, Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon praises the close military ties between Israel and U.S.

Israel Aerospace Industries on Tuesday inaugurated its production line for the wings of the F-35 stealth fighter jet.

The automatic production line, in which tens of millions of dollars were invested, will build four pairs of wings per month, which will then be attached in the U.S. to the bodies of the aircraft.

Over the next decade, IAI will produce more than 800 pairs of wings, to be supplied to Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the F-35. Deliveries will begin in 2015.

Another Israeli company, Elbit Systems, will produce helmets for F-35 pilots...
http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=21219

Mark
Ottawa

 

[RyanHealy29]

And not a program partner:

Mark
Ottawa

If I'm not mistaken this is actually because Israel is not a program partner. If my understanding is correct, because Israel is not a program partner, they were able to negotiate guaranteed industrial benefits (to the tune of $4 billion dollars I believe) , something partners like Canada can't do.

 

[Kirkhill]

Norway is a partner and has been negotiating additional benefits all along.

The same for the Brits.

A contract is never a basis for ending negotiation.  It is an agreed basis for continuing negotiation.

 

[MarkOttawa]

RyanHealy29: More:

...
Current plans are earmarking Israeli-built wings for fighters on order for the US Air Force, the Israeli Air Force and future export customers, industry executives here say. Work has already begun, with the first Israeli-built wings planned for delivery to Lockheed by the middle of next year.

The deal constitutes a major portion of $4 billion in Lockheed-pledged work to Israeli industry stemming from Israel’s 2010 decision to procure its first F-35 squadron. MoD expects the pledged buyback package to grow to $5 billion from projected follow-on orders to the 44 aircraft already approved...

http://www.defensenews.com/article/20141104/DEFREG/311040028/Accent-US-Israel-Alliance-IAI-Lockheed-Launch-F-35-Wing-Line

Seems to me that's a sweet deal.

Mark
Ottawa

 

[Spencer100]

This is interesting........Hmmm maybe the government is buying some on the QT


Canada signals it intends to buy at least four F-35s by 2017: Pentagon briefing


By The Canadian Press — CP — Nov 7 2014







OTTAWA - The Harper government has signalled to Washington that it wants to buy at least four F-35 stealth fighters.

A leaked U.S. Department of Defence slide presentation shows Canada has asked to swap places with the U.S. Air Force and place the order in the current fiscal year, which means a possible delivery date of either 2016 or 2017.

The Oct. 27, 2014, briefing says the Americans would make it up by taking four of the aircraft Canada already planned to buy in 2019.

The U.S. said it would agree as long as the long-delayed development of the controversial fighters remains on track and that no other allies asked for a similar consideration.

The briefing by U.S. Lt.-Gen. Chris Bogdan — head of the F-35 program at the Pentagon — also said Canada would have to provide a letter of intent by mid-November and that the U.S. project office would have to notify Congress.

The Conservative government put its plan to buy 65 stealth fighters on hold almost two years ago after both the auditor general and the parliamentary budget officer criticized both National Defence and Public Works, saying the cost of the program had been lowballed and not enough homework had been done.

 

[The Bread Guy]

This is interesting........Hmmm maybe the government is buying some on the QT

Canada signals it intends to buy at least four F-35s by 2017: Pentagon briefing
By The Canadian Press — CP — Nov 7 2014

OTTAWA - The Harper government has signalled to Washington that it wants to buy at least four F-35 stealth fighters.

A leaked U.S. Department of Defence slide presentation shows Canada has asked to swap places with the U.S. Air Force and place the order in the current fiscal year, which means a possible delivery date of either 2016 or 2017.

The Oct. 27, 2014, briefing says the Americans would make it up by taking four of the aircraft Canada already planned to buy in 2019.

The U.S. said it would agree as long as the long-delayed development of the controversial fighters remains on track and that no other allies asked for a similar consideration.

The briefing by U.S. Lt.-Gen. Chris Bogdan — head of the F-35 program at the Pentagon — also said Canada would have to provide a letter of intent by mid-November and that the U.S. project office would have to notify Congress.

The Conservative government put its plan to buy 65 stealth fighters on hold almost two years ago after both the auditor general and the parliamentary budget officer criticized both National Defence and Public Works, saying the cost of the program had been lowballed and not enough homework had been done.

You can download the whole briefing deck (14 page PDF) here - I've attached the Canada page from the deck.

 

[MarkOttawa]

Pretty firm (usual copyright disclaimer):

Canadian officials deny reports of secret fighter jet purchase

Senior Canadian government officials say Canada will under no circumstances be purchasing F-35s on an expedited basis and that no decision has been made on which new warplane to buy.

In the face of a U.S. military report that Ottawa has made a secret decision to buy U.S. F-35 stealth fighters, officials say the lack of firm details on cost and capabilities has not instilled confidence. They say Lockheed Martin has not provided Canada with enough basic information to justify acquiring the overbudget F-35s, which constitute the most expensive military procurement program in U.S. history. The fact that glitches prevented Lockheed Martin from flying the F-35 at this summer’s Farnborough airshow in Britain only increases caution in Ottawa, a senior Canadian official said.

“What we have seen is that there have been lots of reports and studies provided. And as a result we now know everything there is to know except the cost and capabilities [!!! emphasis added], which are key for an investment of this nature,” the source said.

A leaked, classified, high-level Pentagon briefing – dated Oct. 27 – by the top U.S. Air Force general heading the F-35 program, to the secretary of the Air Force, said that Ottawa wants four F-35s next year and that the Harper government must deliver a signed “letter of intent” by “mid-November” to secure the deal...
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/somnia/article21584133/#dashboard/follows/

Mark
Ottawa

 

[CougarKing]

For those following the F35C variant's development:

US Navy F-35C jet successfully conducts maiden night-flight

[naval-technology]

The US Navy's F-35C Lightning II carrier-variant joint strike fighter (JSF) has successfully completed its maiden night-flight on USS Nimitz (CVN 68), off the San Diego coast.

Being tested as part of a two-week initial at-sea developmental testing I (DT-I), two aircraft have already complied with 95% of the requirements for the first of three at-sea test phases scheduled for the F-35C, further validating their reliability and performance.

Reuters quoted the F-35 programme office as saying that the jets had completed more than 101 catapult takeoffs, 214 planned 'touch and go' landings and 104 arrested-landings through a redesigned tailhook on the USS Nimitz.

<snipped>

The US Navy is yet to decide if F-35 jets are ready for combat deployment, while the Marine Corps and air force have set it for launch by July 2015 and August 2016, respectively.

PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 13, 2014) An F-35C Lightning II carrier variant Joint Strike Fighter conducts its first carrier-based night flight operations aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). The aircraft launched at 6:01 p.m. (PST) and conducted a series of planned touch-and-go landings before making an arrested landing at 6:40 pm. Nimitz is hosting the F-35 Lightning II Pax River Integrated Test Force from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 during the initial sea trials of the F-35C.(U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin by Andy Wolfe/Released)
source: navy.mil

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Reading elsewhere that there is concern that the engine issues on the A variant might be due to a fuselage structure that is not stiff enough, is there significant differences in the fuselage structure of the C variant that could be carried over to the A version if that is the case? If structurally they are the same there and there is a weakness, then I expect the C version to have issues show up quickly due to the greater stresses.

 

[Oldgateboatdriver]

I am no engineer, but I always understood that the fuselage structure of airplanes meant for carrier landings (at least the after portion of the fuselage) is stronger than that found on regular (non-carrier) planes. That's because they have to be able to take the strain of going from about 10-15 knots faster than landing speed of a regular plane (for manoeuvrability in the ship's slipstream) to zero in 250 feet or less, with full power on (as they just about touch down, pilots throttle right up for carrier landings as if doing touch and go, until they know for certain that they caught a wire), all as a result of "pulling on the tail" of the aircraft.

BTW, I think there might be a small error in the reported numbers of cat shoots versus traps in the article above. With two airplanes doing the testing, which would have joined the ship at sea (thus two traps before any cat shoot), it is not possible to otherwise have one more trap than cat shoots discrepancy. So it should either be 101 cat to 103 traps or 102 cat to 104 traps. Unless the carrier came alongside somewhere, one plane was unloaded by crane, taken to an airfield and came back to the carrier at sea .