F-35 Airframe Completes the Journey of a Lifetime

 Eight thousand hours, or one complete lifetime of durability testing is now complete on the F-35 conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant.

Durability testing of the CTOL airframe to 8,000 hours was completed ahead of schedule, proving the airframe is able to handle a variety of flying conditions it will experience when in service. Work continues on schedule for proving the aircraft for up to two lifetimes or 16,000 hours.

The 350 tonne structural test rig at our Brough facility was purposely built to ‘fly’ the F-35 through a series of flight scenarios. Over 20 miles of wiring, 2,500 strain gauges and 160 loading actuators subject the aircraft to a range of loads that it would typically encounter in actual flight.

We are also contracted for the static and fatigue testing for horizontal tails and fatigue testing on vertical tail.

F-35 helmets face tough tests

When the first F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets become operational, the pilots will be able to look into the bubble-shaped visors on their helmets and see through the plane, so to speak, thanks to cameras on the aircraft that will give them a 360-degree view.
But for now, as the military and the manufacturers continue to fine-tune the system, the view is somewhat jittery and latent, relative to the super­sonic speeds at which these new workhorse jets fly. And night vision sometimes is a tad blurry, according to Joe Della­Vedova, spokesman for the Joint Strike Fighter program.
He's certain, though, the kinks will be worked out as the program continues to move forward and the first four planes of three dozen F-35s land early next year at Nellis Air Force Base, launching a new era at the fighter-pilot training range north of the Las Vegas Valley.
"It's cutting-edge technology," DellaVedova said Friday about the helmet, which makes the pilot look like he morphed into a giant, amber-headed grasshopper. The carbon-fiber bonnet, rigged with night-vision cameras, is being developed by Vision Systems International, a subcontractor to the F-35's manufacturer, Lockheed Martin.
"They'll be able to see through the airplane, but there are challenges that go with it in testing and development. We will get there," he said.

Air Force Preps Trillion-Dollar Jet Tests Despite Pentagon Concerns

The latest high-level Pentagon review of the trillion-dollar F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program did not go well for the Lockheed Martin-built JSF. But don’t tell the Air Force that. The flying branch is racing ahead with its own JSF training and evaluation, regardless of the Defense Department’s hang-ups.

Last week’s Defense Acquisition Board review by senior Pentagon officials was meant to approve a comprehensive plan for completing the stealthy jet’s more than decade-long test effort, but in a “very painful” four hours, the officials could not agree on the plan, Reuters reported.

The impasse is bad news for the ambitious effort to replace essentially all of the tactical jets flown by the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps with a family of broadly similar F-35 models costing no less than $400 billion to develop and purchase and hundreds of billions more to operate and repair. Since its inception in the late 1990s, the single-engine JSF has grown steadily heavier and more complex, has suffered frequent program delays and technical problems and isn’t slated to be fully combat ready until 2018, at the earliest. At least one aviation expert expects the military to slash its total buy of JSFs.

But the Air Force is seemingly unfazed by the turmoil up top. With a goal of purchasing 1,763 F-35As, the flying branch is by far the biggest JSF customer — and is counting on the new jet to replace hundreds of aging F-15s, F-16s and A-10s built in the 1970s and ’80s. The Air Force isn’t waiting on the Pentagon to address the testing-plan woes before the flying branch begins integrating the F-35 into its front-line force.

Boeing Knocks F-35's 'Delays and Delays,' Touts F-18

 Boeing renewed its campaign to bash Lockheed Martin's F-35 and promote its F-18 fighters today, as the president of Boeing Military Aircraft slammed the Joint Strike Fighter while noting declining defense budgets here and abroad.

"The F-35 continues to delay and delay," Christopher Chadwick told a group of reporters at Boeing's defense headquarters here. "Yes, the F-35 has all-aspect stealth, but that is used in a relatively small part of the combat envelope."

In a clear signal to F-18 supporters in the Navy, Chadwick added this barb: "With the F-35 continuing to have technical difficulties and to continue slipping to the right, they have to make sure they have the right capability for the men and women who go in harms way."

Chadwick offered his critique of the Joint Strike Fighter in a larger context: "There is a rebalancing we are seeing of the balance between social and defense needs." And that means, quite simply, declining defense budgets both in the United States and in Europe.

A Drag Chute for Canada’s F-35s – A Potentially Dangerous Situation Says One Former CF Pilot

Norway, Canada and the Netherlands want drag chutes installed on the F-35. Norway has decided to go ahead and fund the initiative.

But here is what one former CF fighter pilot wrote to Defence Watch regarding the issue of the F-35 drag chute:

“-At altitude, where the temperatures are minus 50 C,  they tend to freeze and turn into ice cubes.

-When you really need them they don’t work/deploy.

-They cause “weather cocking” into the wind and you then slide off the runway by the pull of the chute itself. When that occurs the pilot immediately needs to “emergency jettison” the chute, leaving the pilot is an even more dangerous situation.

-Who is there to “re-pack” them on subsequent requirements?  In the north, in particular.

-Destroys stealth design…why pay for stealth in the first place then?

Budget impasse clouds F-35's future

Plans to deliver the first F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets to Nellis Air Force Base early next year hinge on uncertain defense budget cuts and potential layoffs at the manufacturer, Lockheed Martin.
Three dozen of the stealthy warplanes are supposed to be based in Southern Nevada.
Automatic defense budget cuts of $492 billion will take effect in January under a measure known as "sequestration" if Congress can't agree on another deficit-reduction plan or doesn't delay the current plan, as Republican senators suggested after a recent trip to the Nellis base during a cross-country tour of military installations.
The cuts set for January would be the first round of 10 annual reductions to follow a split between national security and nonsecurity programs that are aimed at reducing the $16 trillion national debt.
"We don't know how sequestration will affect any individual program or facility but, as we've consistently said, we will follow the law with respect to sequestration and the WARN Act," Lockheed Martin corporate spokesman Christopher Williams said Friday .

Pentagon's Testing Czar Questions F-35 Program's OTE Plan

The head of Operational Test and Evaluation tells the Joint Strike Fighter program in a memo that he will not approve a comprehensive testing plan for the aircraft, raising significant questions about the F-35's progress. The memo may invite close congressional scrutiny as well.

Michael Gilmore wrote an Aug. 21 memo to Frank Kendall, undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, Vice Adm. David Venlet, head of the JSF program office, and several other senior military testing officials. Gilmore's office was created by Congress and professional staff pay close attention to anything coming from it.

Specifically, Gilmore said the F-35 program must specify exactly how they will test the plane's vaunted electronic warfare capabilities. If they don't, then, Gilmore writes, then he won't approve the Test and Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP).

He also notes that the budget for JSF testing have "been reduced significantly" from earlier estimates. Until he receives the new budget in detail and reviews it, Gilmore writes, then he won't approve the TEMP.

Finally, Gilmore says remains concerned about "overlap of developmental testing with the start of operational test activity." He concedes it may be possible to do some test certification
"during the spin-up periods. But, Gilmore writes, he won't approve the TEMP if it "imposes unrealistic and unachievable schedule risk" on operational testing.

Pilot becomes Guard's first F-35 instructor pilot

An Airman became the Guard's first F-35 Lightning II instructor pilot recently at Eglin's multi-service, multi-national F-35 Integrated Training Center.

 

Maj. Jay Spohn, assigned to the 33rd Fighter Wing here as the assistant director of operations for the 58th Fighter Squadron and the chief of standards and evaluation for the 33rd Operations Group, successfully flew his final of six flights Aug. 3 becoming fully qualified and able to teach follow-on pilots to fly the F-35A.

 

"It felt really good," said Spohn about the flight. "It's what they hired me to do; today's flight was the culmination of two and a half years of hard work."

 

Spohn was selected in November, 2009 to be part of the initial F-35A cadre and help develop the syllabus for flight training. On March 6 the first F-35A flight took place at Eglin, with an F-35 instructor pilot at the controls.

 

Then on May 3, the wing was issued clearance to fly initial cadre "non-test" pilots, which opened the doors to the rest of 58th Fighter Squadron operators to begin qualifying as F-35A instructor pilots.

 

Being able to add more F-35A pilots to the ranks gives Spohn a sense of satisfaction.

F-35 Maintenance Training Spawns USMC's First Air FTD

It's no surprise that the military operates in an increasingly joint environment today. With the introduction of the Department of Defense's newest fifth-generation fighter jet, the F-35 Lightening Bolt Joint Strike Fighter, the joint effort is at the forefront of the aircraft's maintenance training and a central effort of the 372nd Training Squadron Field Training Detachment 19.

Although based in the Florida panhandle at Eglin Air Force Base, the detachment is part of Air Education and Training Command's 82nd Training Wing, headquartered at Sheppard Air Force, Texas.

One of the unique features of the detachment is the stand up of the U.S. Marine Corps' first-ever aircraft maintenance FTD by combining F-35 maintenance training operations with the Air Force and the Navy.

Utilizing the FTD will allow the Marines to train the initial core group of F-35 maintenance cadre to staff the creation of new F-35 maintenance squadrons throughout the Corps.

"We decided that the Air Force model for maintenance training was the right way to do business," said Marine Capt. John Park, the 372nd TRS commander. "The Marine Corps, when we go to a platform, stay there for our whole careers ... so this is new to us. Having Marines move to the F-35 from the F-18 Hornet or AV-8B Harrier is unheard of, so it's a big change in our training process."

Turkey’s defense purchases to reach $8 billion by 2016

                           Turkey will buy around 100 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Lightning II aircraft

With large defense projects on the agenda, Turkey will spend $8 billion in defense purchases, the country’s procurement office forecasts. This nearly doubles the current volume 

Turkey will spend up to $8 billion in defense purchases as its exports will reach $2 billion in 2016, four years from now, according to a major estimation by the procurement agency, the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM).

The present figures are around half of that.

The expectations in the SSM’s updated 2012-2016 strategic program are realistic given the money Turkey would pay for expensive systems – such as the F-35s or the U-214 submarines from Germany – over the next few years, as well as the rapid increase in its exports mainly to Islamic countries, according to one defense analyst.

Turkey is in talks with four key foreign suppliers on a $4 billion Long Range Air and Missile Defense Systems project.

The country’s mainly exports armored vehicles of many sorts, rockets and other ammunition, as well as military electronics like radios, to more than 10 Islamic countries. It also sells aviation equipment as part of offset deals.

Panetta Lauds First International F-35 Delivery to U.K.

After a meeting this morning with the United Kingdom’s top defense official, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta lauded an important milestone in the U.S.-U.K. defense relationship.

Today in Fort Worth, Texas, British Defense Secretary Philip Hammond will take the first international delivery of an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, Panetta told reporters at a Pentagon news conference alongside his British counterpart.

“The United Kingdom was the first partner nation to join the F-35 program and has been a tremendous partner throughout the development, testing, and the initial production,” the secretary added.

Hammond, who joined Panetta for a working breakfast, said, “I look forward to seeing [the supersonic stealth fighter] in operation later on today at [Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland] and then picking up our first test aircraft tomorrow … at Fort Worth.”

The aircraft’s multiyear system development and demonstration period involves development and testing of the entire aircraft system, including its manufacture.

Japan Nails Down Purchase Of First Four F-35s

A letter formally committing Japan to buy the first four of 42 F-35s is expected to land in the hands of Lockheed Martin and U.S. government officials today or tomorrow. We heard this from two very well informed sources.While Japan has formally announced its intention to buy -- and then warned the U.S. it would cancel the deal should the price rise too much -- this is the first official action by Japan that will result in the purchase of aircraft.

The four planes would be delivered in fiscal 2016.

The Japanese press has pegged the full life cycle costs of the 42 F-35As at just shy of $13 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress at the end of April about the potential for a $10 billion sale to Japan for the first four Joint Strike Fighters, with an option for an the other 38. The truth is somewhere in there.

South Korea is expected to announce its intention to buy F-35s quite soon. Some F-35 critics went on the record in a South Korean paper today warning that purchase of the fifth generation aircraft would be a major mistake.

The story in the progressive newspaper, The Hankyoreh, quoted AOL Defense Board of Contributor member Winslow Wheeler to this effect: "It's a failed design from the get-go and it's proving itself to be completely unaffordable."

We will point out that the Japanese government was extremely skeptical of buying the F-35 until they were granted a highly classified briefing about its capabilities and the results from exercises such as Northern Edge. We understand that the Japanese were deeply impressed with what they learned at that briefing and that is what tipped the scales in their decision making. Of course, the Chinese J-20 didn't hurt.

Quickstep Secures Second Long Term Agreement to Supply F-35 JSF Components

Quickstep Holdings Limited, an Australian-based advanced composites manufacturer, is pleased to advise that it has secured a second Long Term Agreement (LTA) with Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) to manufacture parts for the international F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The LTA covers production of “Group 2” JSF components until 2020, and follows the LTA signed in February 2011 for Group 1 JSF components, for which manufacturing is now underway. Group 2 parts represent more complex aircraft components, including portions of the main F-35 structure and supports. The first Purchase Order for Group 2 parts is expected to be received in July 2012. The signing of the LTA follows Quickstep’s successful completion of a qualification process to demonstrate production readiness for the manufacture of Group 2 parts. Managing Director of Quickstep, Mr Philippe Odouard, said the securing of a second LTA with Northrop Grumman represented a further endorsement of the Company’s aerospace manufacturing capabilities. “Through our production of Group 1 JSF parts, Quickstep has confirmed its ability to successfully undertake advanced aerospace manufacturing contracts and feed into Northrop Grumman’s international supply chain for the F-35 project,” he said. “This expansion of Quickstep’s contracts to include Group 2 parts will increase the number and variety of components the Company will supply to the JSF program.” Lockheed Martin’s F-35 programme manager, Mr Tom Burbage, recently congratulated Quickstep on its work relating to the JSF program, saying: “One of our most innovative and critical suppliers, Quickstep Holdings, completed source inspection of their first F-35 production parts at their Perth facility. To date, Quickstep has met – and in many cases outperformed – all JSF delivery deadlines. We don’t often get to recognize the excellent performance of our global supply chain, but there are many companies worldwide working very hard to make the F-35 successful. Thanks to all of them and a special well done to Quickstep.” The Group 2 LTA represents the second in a series of three agreements which will implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was signed in November 2009 with F-35 prime contractor Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and Northrop Grumman, one of its principal F-35 subcontractors. Under the MOU, Quickstep will supply a number of different JSF components, including lower side skins, maintenance access panels, fuel tank covers, lower skins and ammunitions doors. Quickstep expects to secure the third and final LTA to manufacture Group 3 JSF parts later this year. Philippe Odouard said that Quickstep’s involvement in the JSF program has not been impacted by reported delays to the program. “We will continue to communicate with Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin with regards to future purchase programs, however at this stage we do not anticipate any immediate impact on the ramp-up of our operations in Australia,” Mr Odouard said.

Quickstep Holdings Limited (QHL)

Company or Organisation Portrait:
Quickstep (ASX Ticker: QHL) is an Australian company at the forefront of advanced composites manufacturing and technology development. The Company has significant capabilities and expertise in the production of high-end advanced composites for aerospace, defence and automotive use, and is creating a unique advanced composites manufacturing business in Australia using both traditional autoclave and its own world-leading non-autoclave production technologies.

Quickstep is an approved supplier for the international F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program - the largest military aerospace program in the world, currently valued at in excess of US$300 billion worldwide. The Company delivered its first production JSF part in October 2011. Quickstep expects to secure agreements to manufacture more JSF parts before the end of 2012, increasing the variety of different parts being manufactured.

The Company is seeking to secure additional manufacturing contracts in the global aerospace and defence industries, and is currently partnering with some of the world’s largest aerospace/defence organisations, including the US Department of Defense, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Airbus and EADS.

Quickstep has a fully-commissioned aerospace-grade manufacturing facility located in North Coogee, Western Australia, and will soon relocate its manufacturing operations to the former Boeing facility at Bankstown, New South Wales, which offers the scale, resources and facilities necessary to undertake large-scale, long term aerospace manufacturing contracts.

In addition to its contract manufacturing business unit, Quickstep has also developed a patented manufacturing technology called the Quickstep Process for the production of high-volume A-grade finished composite components for automotive and specialist thick parts such as spars and wing skins for large defence and commercial aircraft.

The Company is currently working with the US Department of Defence to qualify the patented Quickstep Process for JSF manufacturing, and is also conducting a major Research & Development program with car maker Audi aimed at delivering high surface finish, low cost fast processing of carbon fibre composite, together with specialised resins, particularly adapted to the automotive industry.

Cost of F-35, an independent auditor to the rescue

Liberals and New Democrats believe that the Harper government no longer trusts the numbers provided by the Department of Defense, nor the ministers responsible for the cost of the F-35 stealth fighters.

This is what explains the decision of the Minister Rona Ambrose to seek an independent audit of budgetary estimates related to the purchase of 65 F-35, they claim.

In the Commons, the NDP Christine Moore has accused the Conservatives of Stephen Harper not to come clean about the true costs of the F-35. She recalled that Ottawa had not met its commitment to disclose the estimated cost of these aircraft, 60 days after receipt of the estimates in this direction.

"Why should Canadians wait before getting an accurate picture of the F-35? When the Conservatives will they finally be transparent? "

However, in the opinion of the Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Rona Ambrose, no question of deposit of estimated budgets of the Department of National Defence before they are independently verified. "We will ensure we provide the exact figures," she said.

The government has been rapped over the knuckles by the Auditor General Michael Ferguson that he was accused of trying to hide the cost of purchasing the F-35 aircraft on the basis of incomplete data provided by the Department of National Defence . Ultimately, these aircraft will cost $ 25 billion, not $ 16 billion, Mr. Ferguson noted in his report.

For the interim Liberal leader Bob Rae, the external audit is the best proof that the Harper government does not trust or officials or the Minister of Defence Peter MacKay or the Associate Minister of Defence Julian Fantino.

"It's such an extraordinary lack of confidence from the government in its own government, in his own practice," said Mr. Rae. In the same vein, the NDP Matthew Kellway believes that this is a "deep mistrust" toward the Associate Minister and the Minister.

As for MacKay, he seems to have been left out of this process. He could appoint the independent auditor in question.

"I'm not sure. It would be better to ask the Minister Ambrose, "he said Tuesday.

World's best jet fighters

1. F/A-22 Raptor

 The F/A-22 Raptor is a fifth generation stealth fighter aircraft, which entered the United States Air Force as the F-22A. Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and Boeing Integrated Defense Systems Engine Specifications: Two Pratt & Whitney F-119-PW-100 Turbofan engines with afterburners and two-dimensional thrust-vectoring nozzles. Each Engine is in the 35,000-lb-thrust class. Maximum Speed: Mach 2.42 at high altitude Cruise Speed: Mach 1.72.  This pilot only aircraft can carry six radar-guided AIM-120C advanced medium-range A2A missiles in its main weapon bay, two heat-seeking AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range A2A missiles in side weapons bay, one M61A2 20 mm multi-barrel cannon. With this much onboard, the plane still manages to carry four external stations with additional arsenal.

2. B2 Spirit

 The B2 Spirit is a multi-role stealth bomber which is capable to drop conventional and nuclear weapons. The development of this aircraft can be seen as a milestone in the bomber modernization program of the U.S. Department of Defense. Manufacturer: Northrop Corporation and Northrop Grumman. Engine Specifications: Four General Electric F118-GE-100 non-afterburning turbofans each providing it with 19,000 lb thrust. Maximum Speed: Mach 0.92.  The B-2 provides the versatility inherent in manned bombers. The aircraft comes with unique 'stealth' characteristics that give it the ability to hide itself from enemy's most sophisticated defenses enabling it to attack right from the enemy's prime locations. The B-2 can carry a crew of 2-3 soldiers along with up to 80,000 lb payload including 16 B61/b83 nuclear bombs, 80 Mk82 1,000 lb bombs or 16 Mk84 2,000 lb bombs, 36 M117 750 lb fire bombs, 36 cluster bombs, or 80 Mk36 1,000 lb sea mines.

3. Su-47

 The Sukhoi Su-47 was also called as S-37 and S-32 during initial development. The aircraft has been fully developed but till now it has not entered service. Manufacturer: SukhoiEngine Specifications: Two Aviadvigatel D-30F6 afterburning turbofans. The company plans to incorporate two Saturn / Lyulka AL-37FU afterburning Turbofans in it. Maximum Speed: Mach 2.09 at high altitude Maximum Cruise Speed: Mach 1.17. This pilot only aircraft can carry one 30mm GSh-30 cannon, R-27/AA-10 Alamo A2A missile, and R-73/AA-11 Archer A2A missile.

 

4. MiG-35

 The Milkoyan MiG-35 is a mature development of MiG-29M. The aircraft has also been fully developed and is on offer; however it still has not entered service. Manufacturer: MilkoyanEngine Specifications: Two Lyulka AL-41F vectored-thrust afterburning turbofans, 39,340 lb thrust each. Maximum Speed at high altitude: Mach 2.05 Maximum Cruise Speed: Mach 1.02.  One 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon with 150 rounds, eight weapons pylons for R-27, R-60, R-73, R-77, TV and Laser-Guided Air to Ground missiles and bombs. In addition, the aircraft can also carry up to 2,000 lb of bombs.

5. F-117A Nighthawk

 The F-117A Nighthawk is the world's first operational aircraft designed to exploit low-observable stealth technology. Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin Engine Specifications: Two General Electric F404-F1D2 turbofans which offer 10,600 lbf each. Maximum Speed: Mach 0.92. The single-seat F-117A provides exceptional combat capabilities. It is designed to carry 2 internal weapons bays with one hardpoint each, which can further carry BLU-109 hardened penetrator bombs, GBU-10 Paveway II, GBU-12 Paveway II and GBU-27 Paveway III laser-guided bombs and JDAM inertially aided munition

6. F-35 Lightning II

 The F-35 Lightning II is a single-seat, single-engine military strike fighter. Its multi-role capabilities enable it to perform close air support, tactical bombings and air-to-air combat. Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems. Engine Specifications: One Pratt & Whitney F135 afterburning turbofan that offers 28,000 lbf as dry thrust and 43,000 lbf with afterburner support. Maximum Speed: Mach 1.8.  The F-35 Lightning II is designed to carry 1 GAU-12/U 25 mm cannon, up to four AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-9X Sidewinder or AIM-132 ASRAAM internally or two air-to-air and two air-to-ground weapons. The aircraft is detectable by Radar so it can also carry many more missiles, bombs and even fuel tanks.

7. F-16 Fighting Falcon

 This is a multirole jet fighter designed for the United States Air Force. The aircraft was also successful in the export market and is serving 24 countries. Manufacturer: General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin Engine Specifications: One Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 afterburning turbofan which offers 14,590 lbf as dry thrust and 23,770 lbf with afterburner support. Maximum Speed: Mach 2. This single-seat aircraft can carry one 20 mm M61 Vulcan gatling gun with 511 rounds, 2.75-inch rockets, six AIM-9 Sidewinder or six AIM-120 AMRAAM or six Python-4 air-to-air missiles, six AGM-65 Maverick or four AGM-88 HARM air-to-ground missiles, four AGM-119 Penguin anti-ship missiles. Apart from this it can carry a huge arsenal of bombs that include B61 nuclear bomb. 

8. JF-17 Thunder

 The Joint Fighter-17 Thunder is also called as Fighter China-1 Fierce DragonIIII in China. It is a single-seat multirole fighter aircraft co-developed by Pakistan and China. Manufacturer:Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex. Engine Specifications: One Russian-made RD-93 turbofan that offers 18,277 lbf. Maximum Speed: Mach 1.8.  The JF-17 Thunder carries one internal GSh-23-2 twin-barrel 23 mm cannon, Short (PL-9C/AIM-9M/Magic 2) and beyond-visual-range missiles (SD-10/Aspide), laser guided bombs, other guided munitions and targeting pod can also be carried for precision strike missions.

 

9. Eurofighter 2000 Typhoon

 The Eurofighter 2000 Typhoon is a single-seat, twin-engine, agile combat aircraft which will be used in the air-to-air, air-to-ground and tactical reconnaissance roles. Manufacturer:Eurofighter GmbH Engine Specifications: Two Eurojet EJ200 afterburning turbofans with offer 13,500 lbf as dry thrust and 20,250 lbf with afterburner support. Maximum speed at high altitude: Mach 2.25 Maximum cruise speed: Mach 1.2.  This jet fighter is designed to carry one 27 mm Mauser BK-27 cannon, AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-132 ASRAAM, AIM-120 AMRAAM and IRIS-T air-to-air missiles, AGM-84 Harpoon, AGM-88 HARM, ALARMs, Storm Shadow, Brimstone, Taurus and Penguin air-to-ground missiles, bombs and LITENING pod laser designator.

10. Su-37 Terminator

 The Su-37 is Russia's reply to today's advanced jet fighters. The Su-37 can be considered as the best air dominance fighter in the Eastern hemisphere. The Su-37 is a single-seat, all-weather fighter and ground attack aircraft. Manufacturer: Sukhoi Engine Specifications: Two Lyulka AL-37FU turbofans each delivering 32,000 lbf. Maximum Speed: Mach 2.09.  The Sukhoi Su-37 can carry one 30 mm GSh-30 cannon with 150 rounds and twelve wing and fuselage stations for up to 18,080 lb of ordnance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It starts the controversy simulation test on the F-35 fighter jet purchase

Seoul, June 7 (Yonhap) - A plan to conduct performance testing of the F-35 Lockheed Martin, using flight simulators, not a real test of a South Korean pilot, has stirred up controversy here, as Seoul is prepared to buy a fleet of advanced stealth fighters.
The F-15 SE of Boeing, Lockheed F-35 Eurofighter and EADS are competing to win a big business worth 10 trillion won (8.5 billion dollars) to sell 60 jet fighters to South Korea be chosen from a supplier in the month of October.
Performance tests on site are carried out in June for the F-35, in August for the F-15 SE and in September for the Eurofighter, according to officials of the Administration Defense Acquisition Program (DAPA, for its acronym in English), the South Korean state agency to purchase weapons.
While Boeing and EADS agreed to conduct performance tests through actual flights with a pilot aboard South Korean, Lockheed refused, saying that the radar evading fighter jet is not in service and is still in development .
Programming of test flights for the F-35 has been delayed, raising concerns about rising costs and that the aircraft may not be available until 2020.
Instead, the DAPA asked Lockheed to conduct performance tests with simulators and a pilot aboard a South Korean fighter differently and follow the path of the F-35, the official said.
The plan, however, has raised questions about the appropriate benchmarks

More Work Needed on F-22, F-35 Oxygen Problems, Experts Say

Does F-35 Have Same Oxygen Problems As F-22? More Oversight Needed, Say Experts
 
Given the recent allegations by F-22 Raptor pilots that the aircraft has potentially deadly oxygen-system problems, it’s not surprising that questions are also being raised about the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter—which has strikingly similar design elements. Lockheed Martin, which makes both aircrafts, has recently said that “the F-35 and F-22 have common aircraft oxygen system suppliers, but the systems are very different.”
 
But a ‘concerned’ POGO commenter asked us if there’s any chance the F-35 could have the same oxygen problems, anyways. Not content to simply parrot Lockheed’s answer, we decided to pose the question to two defense experts: Winslow Wheeler, the director of POGO's Straus Military Reform Project and Pierre Sprey, who co-designed the F-16 and A-10 jets.
 
You can read their full responses below, but the short answer is, there is still a lot more monitoring that needs to be done on the F-35 before Lockheed or the Air Force can conclusively say that the aircraft is safe (not to mention, the F-22—which very clearly appears to have problems—needs to be grounded until the oxygen malfunction is resolved.) The elite pilots who fly these planes deserve prompt, complete independent oversight.
 
Pierre Sprey says:
 
Given that all previous stealth aircrafts—the F-117, the B-2 and the F-22—have each shown evidence that their stealth coatings can be extremely toxic to production workers, pilots, and/or maintainers, it would be unconscionable for the Congressional Armed Services Committees and the Department of Defense (DoD) Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) to fail to demand an immediate, intensive toxicological monitoring of the F-35's stealth coatings.
 
Specifically, levels of all toxic components of the F-35's stealth materials that could be breathed by production workers, pilots and maintainers need to be meticulously, frequently, and accurately monitored on the production line, in the maintenance hangars, and in flight… Congress and the Director of OT&E should demand an unclassified report, within 4 months, of the quantitative results of this monitoring, together with an assessment of the potential long-term and short-term health effects on workers, pilots and maintainers by independent toxicologists from the Department of Health and Human Services, not from DoD.
 
There have been no public reports of it. Both the On-Board Oxygen Generating System and other suspects, like the stealth materials, have technical differences—they are not identical to what's in/on the F-22. It is something that should be closely monitored for the F-35. I doubt the Air Force or Lockheed will be forthcoming, and the pilots (test pilots both corporate and service) may also be less inclined to come forward than National Guard or active service pilots. It will be tough to get an independent view unless someone wakes up and demands a Government Accountability Office or Inspector General inquiry.

chinas stealth helicopter to counter f-35

 

It's a stealth heavy attack helicopter. US aviation experts say that it is designed to counter the F-35 Lightning 

                                 The aircraft seems to be naval-oriented. Internal weapons bays are included.

 Here is what the US experts have to say:
"One aircraft concept that caught the attention of reporters was a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft -- China's answer to the United States' developmental F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. A model of the aircraft, which was on display at the show, appears to incorporate some aspects of stealth technology."

Japan to buy 42 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress April 30 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Japan for a possible sale of an initial four F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL) aircraft with an option to purchase an additional 38 F-35 CTOL aircraft.

The estimated cost is $10 billion.

All aircraft will be configured with the Pratt and Whitney F-135 engines, and 5 spare Pratt and Whitney F-135 engines.

Other Aircraft Equipment includes: Electronic Warfare Systems, Command, Control, Communication, Computers and Intelligence/Communication, Navigational and Identifications (C4I/CNI), Autonomic Logistics Global Support System (ALGS), Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS), Flight Mission Trainer, Weapons Employment Capability, and other Subsystems, Features, and Capabilities, F-35 unique infrared flares, reprogramming center, and F-35 Performance Based Logistics. Also included: software development/integration, flight test instrumentation, aircraft ferry and tanker support, spare and repair parts, support equipment, tools and test equipment, technical data and publications, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $10 billion.

Japan is one of the major political and economic powers in East Asia and the Western Pacific and a key ally of the United States in ensuring the peace and stability of this region. The U.S. Government shares bases and facilities in Japan. This proposed sale is consistent with these U.S. objectives and with the 1960 Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security.

The proposed sale of aircraft and support will augment Japan’s operational aircraft inventory and enhance its air-to-air and air-to-ground self-defense capability. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s F-4 aircraft will be decommissioned as F-35’s are added to the inventory. Japan will have no difficulty absorbing these aircraft into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The prime contractors will be Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company in Fort Worth, Texas, and Pratt and Whitney Military Engines in East Hartford, Connecticut. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will require multiple trips to Japan involving U.S. Government and contractor representatives for technical reviews/support, programs management, and training over a period of 15 years.

U.S. contractor representatives will be required in Japan to conduct Contractor Engineering Technical Services (CETS) and Autonomic Logistics and Global Support (ALGS) for after-aircraft delivery.

There will be no adverse impact on the U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.

cockpit of F 35