The F-35 Thread

[HiJack]

Not to get into a "mine is bigger" argument , but there is a reason why the IAF F-35 are designated F-35I , it would have tons of Israeli systems on-board, i doubt anyone else was allowed this much freedom to make such modification.

 

Israel also got special approval to make all periodic maintenance done at home and not have to fly them to a Lockheed facility

 

or as someone from the IAF said on the radio the other day "the F-35`s will only leave Israel to make an attack"

Well it was not so much secret systems I was talking about. Norway paid for the development of the Drag chute as we are landing on special icy conditions 6 months of the year in the far north and around the arctic. The F-35A are all prepared for the drag chute but comes standard without it. The Netherlands have also ordered them now I see.

 

EDIT: Like this:

 

And the F-16's have successfully used this function over many many years:

Edited December 15, 2016 by HiJack

[SkateZilla]

Waiting for an F-35 w/ Skids/Ice Ski's instead of wheels, haha

[HiJack]

Waiting for an F-35 w/ Skids/Ice Ski's instead of wheels, haha

 

Ah, you think Santa have a F-35A with skids waiting to take off from the North pole now SkateZilla? have you behaved this year so you get any? :)

[HiJack]

Joke aside. It is extremely important that we can take off and land at any winter condition to keep the security in the North. Pilots are in daily contacts.

[SkateZilla]

F-22 Lines still in the news.

 

But it's likely the F-22As will get Processor Upgrades soon instead of new off the line birds to bolster F-22 Wings.

[Rangi]

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/loose-bracket-caused-f-35b-fire-432608/

 

First release of info regarding F-35B fire in weapons Bay.

[Weta43]

PEOTUS tweets:

"

Donald J. Trump

✔ ‎@realDonaldTrump

 

Based on the tremendous cost and cost overruns of the Lockheed Martin F-35, I have asked Boeing to price-out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet!"

 

In after-hours trading following the tweet, Lockheed shares fell 2% and Boeing’s rose 0.7%.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/dec/23/lockheed-f-35-fighter-project-in-doubt-after-trump-tweet-encourages-rival-boeing

[probad]

F-18 Super Hornet!

comparable

?????????

:huh::huh::huh:

 

unless this is his idea of how to make lm roll up their sleeves

Edited December 23, 2016 by probad

[The M]

I have to say he knows how to burn money.

[SkateZilla]

AKA the ASH Block IV

[AMEDooley]

Well considering he'd be wasting more money than he'd save at this point. I'm in the IOC squadron and they've invested far too much money at this point. But on the bright side, the jet is awesome to work on.

[Sweep]

unless this is his idea of how to make lm roll up their sleeves

 

I'd say so - Also, it has appeal to the general public that still thinks the Devil and the F-35 are first cousins.

 

I bet LM is telling him to Bug off right now...

 

:P

[Tirak]

AKA the ASH Block IV

 

Not stealth, not STOVL, shorter range.

[SkateZilla]

Not stealth, not STOVL, shorter range.

 

 

ASH BlockIV w/:

- CFT,

- Condensed Electronics, Upgraded Processor Package, more Fuel Cells

- Radar Absorbent Materials/Coating,

- Further Implementation of RCS Reducing Features (new Wing Design from Growler, etc)

- EPE/EEE,

- EWP

- NGJ

- IRST

- Adv. Sensors from Growler will be part of every ASH BIV

- AESA Radar

 

 

Has the Same Base RCS as the F-35C,

Has greater Range,

Has the same weapons capability

Has the Same Unified Display and Avionics Suite in Cockpit

 

Other than STOVL, the ASH Block IV is Equal if not Better than the F-35C at this Point.

 

It's now less about shape and more about ECM and material coating, there's no such thing as 100% stealth, and there's always an angle that has an RCS Spike.

 

As for Weapons capability, other than the Lockheed Exclusive Weapons, the SH Can Carry anything in EWP that the F-35 Can Carry

Edited December 23, 2016 by SkateZilla

[SkateZilla]

Well considering he'd be wasting more money than he'd save at this point. I'm in the IOC squadron and they've invested far too much money at this point. But on the bright side, the jet is awesome to work on.

 

Cancelling the Program and Production now, would be significantly more costly than letting it finish running it's developmental course.

 

it'd be 1000x worse than what happened w/ F-22As

 

Not to mention, Trump really has no 100% say in it, it's joint venture between multiple countries.

 

He can pull money out, but it will not shut down the program, and the penalty for the pull out is likely greater than the developmental investment.

 

 

U.S. Will get kickback from international sales on the export market, something the F-22A couldn't do.

[Pilotasso]

Politics shouldnt be allowed to be the main drive for the companies future plans. Companies have departments with speciallists for that, who shouldnt be ovverriden by a directive that will only last as long as that administration does.

[probad]

ASH Block

easily produced by lighting bill stacks on fire :)

Edited December 23, 2016 by probad

[NineLine]

Lets not steer down the path of politics and its effect on what or what may not happen with the aircraft. Lets just keep the subject on the F-35 and its capabilities and development progress. Thanks guys.

[Darkbrotherhood7]

 

Other than STOVL, the ASH Block IV is Equal if not Better than the F-35C at this Point.

 

That's hard to believe. I doubt the APG-79 can be as good as the APG-81, the Advanced Super Hornet doesn't even has an EOTS, which is important for strike missions where stealth is required.

 

But anyways, the ASH would be probably the last upgrade to the F/A-18 family, while the F-35C has many and many upgrades to come, just as the F/A-18 family had.

 

IMO, what USN should do is reduce the F-35C orders, buy more Super Hornet (or ASH) till the F/A-XX come, which is not that far.

Edited December 23, 2016 by Darkbrotherhood7

[Basher54321]

ASH BlockIV w/:

 

Has the Same Base RCS as the F-35C,

Has greater Range,

Has the same weapons capability

Has the Same Unified Display and Avionics Suite in Cockpit

 

Other than STOVL, the ASH Block IV is Equal if not Better than the F-35C at this Point.

 

It's now less about shape and more about ECM and material coating, there's no such thing as 100% stealth, and there's always an angle that has an RCS Spike.

 

As for Weapons capability, other than the Lockheed Exclusive Weapons, the SH Can Carry anything in EWP that the F-35 Can Carry

 

 

 

Less about shape?? - first time I have ever seen anyone claim that regarding RCS.

 

The F-35C does not have STOVL (that's the B) :thumbup:

[Wizard_03]

That's hard to believe. I doubt the APG-79 can be as good as the APG-81, the Advanced Super Hornet doesn't even has an EOTS, which is important for strike missions where stealth is required

 

It also lacks DAS

[SkateZilla]

Less about shape?? - first time I have ever seen anyone claim that regarding RCS.

 

The F-35C does not have STOVL (that's the B) :thumbup:

 

Yes I know, I was including STOVL because it was included in the "Argument Against".

 

The Super Hornet Shape is not as bad as people believe, it was initially designed to have a lower RCS.

 

now you can further reduce it with RAM and Coating, along w/ Electronics.

[Basher54321]

Yes I know, I was including STOVL because it was included in the "Argument Against".

 

The Super Hornet Shape is not as bad as people believe, it was initially designed to have a lower RCS.

 

now you can further reduce it with RAM and Coating, along w/ Electronics.

 

 

Apologies for not picking up on that.

 

The SH had reduced RCS as a design goal to improve survivability but the claim it compares to an actual aircraft designed from the ground up with RF / IR and Emission stealth & sensor fusion sounds like Boeing PR - unfortunately no way to disprove their claims.

 

There is nothing new there - The F-117/F-22/35 all use(d) RAM and coating (F-16s were coated with RAM from 1983) but shaping has always been AFAIK >80% of the effect for RF.

 

Those massive conformal pods look like nothing more than desperation at trying to sell an EOL airframe - I wish them the best of luck.

[garrya]

Has the Same Base RCS as the F-35C,

It's now less about shape and more about ECM and material coating, there's no such thing as 100% stealth, and there's always an angle that has an RCS Spike.

There is just no way F-18 ASH can get RCS even remotely close to F-35. These pylons made perfect corner reflector, there are plenty of non serrated gap on the airframe, the round nose will tribute significant to creeping wave return.It also lack any radar absorbing structure that comparable to fibermat on F-35. F-18ASH may have good RCS treatment compare to F-15 or F-16.But it is far from approaching F-35 level

[Dr_Arrow]

There is just no way F-18 ASH can get RCS even remotely close to F-35. These pylons made perfect corner reflector, there are plenty of non serrated gap on the airframe, the round nose will tribute significant to creeping wave return.It also lack any radar absorbing structure that comparable to fibermat on F-35. F-18ASH may have good RCS treatment compare to F-15 or F-16.But it is far from approaching F-35 level

 

Moreover if the pylons will be canted outward like by SH, this has to produce huge frontal RCS, apart the huge drag penalty.