2019 F-35 News and Discussion

Read the forum code of contact

Member for

15 years 2 months

Posts: 5,197

Welcome to 2019 and Happy New Year to ALL.

For all of you who live in the Great State of Texas, you may soon show some of your pride by getting an F-35 License Plate.

[EMAIL="atinsley@star-telegram.com"]BY ANNA M. TINSLEY[/EMAIL]
JANUARY 01, 2019 12:00 AM

State Sen. Jane Nelson wants Texans to be able to keep that F-35 pride with them no matter where they go.
Nelson, R-Flower Mound, has filed a bill requiring the state to create a license plate featuring the F-35 fighter jet — which is built at Lockheed Martin’s plant in west Fort Worth — along with the local motto: The Sound of Freedom.

Texans would be able to buy this specialty license plate as they already may buy plates honoring everything from the military and colleges to Dr Pepper and sports teams such as the Dallas Cowboys if Senate Bill 240 is approved by the Texas Legislature in 2019.

The F-35 is a significant point of pride for Senate District 12 where it is manufactured, said Nelson, R-Flower Mound, and the dean of the Tarrant delegation. “It is crucial in our country's pursuit to promote and defend freedom around the globe and this legislation affirms Texas position as a hub for the aerospace industry.”

State lawmakers head back to work on Jan. 8 and will wrap up on May 27.

If Nelson’s proposal is approved, the license plates would be available some time after Sept. 1, 2019.

https://www.star-telegram.com/news/l...223209865.html

Original post

Why not....only problem is I don't live in Texas!

Member for

12 years 1 month

Posts: 4,168

Some Belgium analysts already dubious about promised offsets from F-35 purchase...

https://www.lecho.be/opinions/carte-blanche/les-retombees-du-contrat-des-f-35-en-question/10083694.html

...

In addition, created in October 2016, the BELAG (Belgian Aeronautical Group) was called upon to contract the commitments of candidate sellers and to avoid regional disputes. Unlike BAe Systems, however, Lockheed Martin completely ignored BELAG,

Member for

12 years 3 months

Posts: 5,905

It is clear that the recent collapse of the Be gov could imply some dark skies ahead for the F-35 (no representation, no chorus of decision)). However with a network well established since the early 80's and the F-16 program, it will be dubious to think that LM will need BELAG advice to implement the promised offset.

You don't rent a trainer if you know how to drive.

Member for

12 years 1 month

Posts: 4,168

It is not only that. How can anyone promise offset on a program structured on regular call for tenders? The analyst (honorary professor at war college) says that there is only vague promises. However, ha can be wrong.

Member for

12 years 3 months

Posts: 5,905

Preliminary Contracts were signed even before Dassault's ;)

Member for

15 years 2 months

Posts: 5,197

Governments are waking up to the fact that "guaranteed offsets" in the form of program related contracts only leads to cost increases. This was the main reason why the recent Japanese plans for more F-35 will NOT be produced locally but will instead come from the established F-35 line in Texas.

Member for

15 years 2 months

Posts: 5,197

F-35 takes out two air targets simultaneously

Last year, an F-35 pilot fired two Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles at maneuvering drones in the air, bringing synchronized attack to a new level for the aircraft, using an integrated targeting sensor, called the Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS).

Two AMRAAMs had multiple targets - to shoot two airborne targets simultaneously. It was a complex set up that happened over the Pacific. They were shooting at drones, Lt. Col. Tucker Hamilton, F-35 Test Director, Edwards AFB, told reporters last year.

I thought that this had already been done. Is this a case of a journalist just getting it wrong, this just being the fist time that it was actually demonstrated, or was it just the 1st time for the F-35?

https://defensemaven.io/warriormaven...EivRmOxHMfbjA/

Member for

8 years 5 months

Posts: 815


I thought that this had already been done.

At the bottom of the story is the following statement, "This Story first appeared last year and is being republished due to news value and reader request".

Like the National Interest Maven has a habit of reposting stories to increase the website hit count.

Member for

15 years 2 months

Posts: 5,197

Oh ffs.....

But my questions is still the same: Has any other platform demonstrated simultaneous A2A kills?

Member for

12 years 3 months

Posts: 5,905

[USER="20936"]SpudmanWP[/USER] : Offsets are not giveaway production lots (parts). Competition is still the main name of the game.

Member for

8 years 5 months

Posts: 815


But my questions is still the same: Has any other platform demonstrated simultaneous A2A kills?

It has been done before operationally with the AIM-120,


While on a sortie over Bosnia on March 26th, 1999 during Operation Allied Force, Captain Jeffrey C. J. Hwang identified two aircraft in violation of Bosnian airspace and NATO peace-keeping directives. After spotting the aircraft on radar, Hwang and his wingman, Captain J. "Boomer" McMurray, turned deeper into Bosnian airspace and assumed a position of disadvantage both to determine the intent of the other pilots and to avoid a confrontation along the border. But the Serbian aircraft continued to close in on the F-15Cs and NATO forces on the ground. The F-15 pilot’s training then took over as he maneuvered to take a shot at the rapidly approaching aircraft. Both Hwang (flying a Lakenheath AFB (LN) F-15C S/N 86-0156) and his wingman (flying a Lakenheath AFB (LN) F-15C S/N 84-0014) fired AIM-120 missiles. Later investigation revealed only Hwang’s two missiles had reached and destroyed the targets - two MiG-29s from the Serbian Air Force (one piloted by Major Slobodon Peric, who ejected safely; the other piloted by Captain First Class Radosavljevic, who was killed in action as a result).

Captain Hwang became the first pilot in combat aviation history to single-handedly and simultaneously destroy two enemy aircraft during a single intercept using radar-guided missiles. In recognition to his achievement, he was awarded the Mackay Trophy on September 14th, 2001 in Washington, D.C. The aircraft flying as Hwang's wingman during the shootdown (84-0014) later scored a kill during Operation Desert Storm. On March 20th, 1991, Captain John T. Donesky was credited with one Iraqi SU-22 kill with the same F-15 involved in this recording.


http://spotter-ssol.blogspot.com/2012/06/kosovo-mig-kills.html

Member for

15 years 2 months

Posts: 5,197

Thanks for the history. Maybe the "new" part was that it was a passive sensor since they specifically mentioned EOTS?

Member for

8 years 5 months

Posts: 815


Thanks for the history. Maybe the "new" part was that it was a passive sensor since they specifically mentioned EOTS?

Probably the passive part given the dual kill above was done while in a TWS radar mode.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 2,271

Captain Hwang became the first pilot in combat aviation history to single-handedly and simultaneously destroy two enemy aircraft during a single intercept using radar-guided missiles. In recognition to his achievement, he was awarded the Mackay Trophy on September 14th, 2001 in Washington, D.C. The aircraft flying as Hwang's wingman during the shootdown (84-0014) later scored a kill during Operation Desert Storm. On March 20th, 1991, Captain John T. Donesky was credited with one Iraqi SU-22 kill with the same F-15 involved in this recording.

Odd they found time to hand out awards on that date... turns out Hwang got the trophy in 1999.
Also didn't know the F-15 is capable of time travelling. :very_drunk:

Member for

15 years 2 months

Posts: 5,197

The U.S. Navy is on track to reach critical milestones and declare its F-35 Joint Strike Fighters ready for combat next month.

There have been no reported delays in the service's F-35C reaching initial operating capability (IOC) next month, Navy spokeswoman Lt. Lauren Chatmas told Military.com on Friday.

The Joint Strike Fighter Fleet Integration Office "is confident in meeting milestones as planned," Chatmas said.

While no official February date has been announced, the work "is still on target, still proceeding as planned," she said.

Last month, the Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 "Argonauts" out of Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, completed a critical milestone aboard the USS Carl Vinson, a turning point in reaching IOC for the Navy's stealth jet.

The "Argonauts" are slated to become the service's first operational F-35Csquadron. Once IOC ready, VFA-147's first deployment is scheduled aboard the Vinson in 2021.

https://www.military.com/defensetech/2019/01/04/navys-f-35c-track-be-combat-ready-next-month.html

Member for

15 years 2 months

Posts: 5,197

First Female Air Force F-35 Test Pilot Marks Mission Milestone

Maj. Rachael Winiecki, of the 461st Flight Test Squadron, recently became the first female test pilot to lead an F-35 mission at Edwards Air Force Base, California, according to the service.

Winiecki, who's flown the A-10C Thunderbolt II and F-16 Fighting Falcon on various missions, is part of a team overseeing developmental testing of all F-35variants, which began last month at the base.

"I may be the first female developmental test pilot [in the F-35], but [test pilots] are just one small part of the test enterprise," she said in the release.


More at the JUMP
https://www.military.com/dodbuzz/2019/01/08/first-female-air-force-f-35-test-pilot-marks-mission-milestone.html

Member for

15 years 2 months

Posts: 5,197

Dutch F-16s return from Middle East as F-35 ambitions grow

Defence minister Ank Bijleveld on 14 December 2018 announced the Netherlands' intention to purchase another squadron of F-35s, in a measure that will be enabled by additional funding leading to the nation meeting a NATO spending target of 2% of GDP on defence.

According to this plan, the Netherlands will acquire 15 additional F-35s for around €1.2 billion ($1.1 billion), boosting an existing commitment to take 37 conventional take-off and landing examples.

Two Dutch F-35As are already involved in operational test and evaluation work performed at Edwards AFB, California, while six more will be stationed at Luke AFB in Arizona to support the training of pilots from the Netherlands and Denmark.

Aircraft to be assigned to a first operational squadron at Leeuwarden will arrive in the Netherlands this year, with a second unit to be formed at Volkel air base. The location for the nation's third frontline squadron has yet to be decided.

At the current exchange rate it is actually $1.382 Billion, not $1.1.

More at the JUMP
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/ar...bition-454852/