The F-35 Thread

[Cupra]

Looking forward to see the F-35 in June in switzerland. Not the right jet for us but good enough to get some pictures :D

[Gman109]

New F35 internal bay rack, the "Sidekick", allows 3 Aim120/etc AAM missiles per bay instead of just 2 - this gives the F35 6 AAMs in max low observability mode now. While not a game changer, it certainly gives more lethality to the F35 A and C models (it won't fit in the B model bays) in terms of ammunition in a fight.

 

 

 

Full story:

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/lockheed-martin-unveils-sidekick-the-new-weapons-rack-that-enables-f-35a-and-c-to-carry-two-more-missiles-internally/

[Emu]

Folding fins and rotary launcher is the way forward.

[garrya]

[33-DFTC]

New setbacks for the F-35 reported by Defensenews.com [Link]

 

Supersonic flight at the edge of the F-35 jet's flight envelope could cause structural damage or degrade its stealth coating, warn documents […]

 

The F-35's AN/APG-81 radar has a limited field of view in sea search mode.

The F-35 JPO says a software fix is in development, but may not be ready before 2024. […]

 

When the F-35 blows a tire, it can set off a chain reaction of potential failures. The problem has been fixed in the carrier variant, but why aren't the "A" and "B" models getting the same correction? […]

 

A fix is coming for a problem that left two F-35 pilots in ‘excruciating’ pain. Oxygen deprivation isn't the only issue known to cause physiological episodes among F-35 pilots.

 

When US Navy and Marine F-35 pilots most need performance, the aircraft becomes erratic. The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps’ F-35s become unpredictable to handle when executing the kind of extreme maneuvers a pilot would use in a dogfight or while avoiding a missile. […]

 

Two F-35 partners threatened to quit the program. Here’s why they didn’t.

How serious were the problems? Serious enough that a couple countries threatened to pull out of the program, according to U.S. Defense Department documents. […]

[Cunctator]

Response from Lockheed:

 

https://www.f35.com/news/detail/lockheed-martin-comments-on-defense-news-reporting

[Wizard_03]

Getting harder and harder for Pierre and his disciples to find things to complain about. :)

Edited June 13, 2019 by Wizard_03

[TacoGrease]

Huh.

 

“U.S. And U.K. F-35 Jets Include 'Core' Circuit Boards From Chinese-Owned Company”

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2019/06/15/chinese-owned-company-supplies-electronics-on-u-s-and-u-k-f-35-fighter-jets/

[Emu]

Huh.

 

“U.S. And U.K. F-35 Jets Include 'Core' Circuit Boards From Chinese-Owned Company”

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2019/06/15/chinese-owned-company-supplies-electronics-on-u-s-and-u-k-f-35-fighter-jets/

Not as bad as it sounds. Chinese-owned since 2013, after boards were made by Exception PCB. National firewalls apply. If the board was actually made in China by UK/US-owned company, then I would worry a lot more.

[WRAITH]

AWESOME

 

Amazing F-35 Demonstration watch @3.51 that is an amazing capability!

 

Watch from inside the cockpit as F-35 Demo pilot Capt. Andrew "Dojo" Olson performs the new demonstration over Miami Beach during the Hyundai Air & Sea Show May 26, 2019.

 

 

 

Edited June 30, 2020 by WRAITH

[Motomouse]

I ditch my rift and aquire on of those helmets.