Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a family of single-seat, single-engine, fifth generation multirole fighters under development to perform ground attack, reconnaissance, and air defense missions with stealthcapability. The F-35 has three main models; Sony VAIO PCG-3B1M Battery

the F-35A is a conventional takeoff and landing variant, the F-35B is a short take off and vertical-landing variant, and the F-35C is a carrier-based variant.

The F-35 is descended from the X-35, the product of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. JSF development is being principally funded by the United States, Sony VAIO PCG-3C1T Battery

with the United Kingdom and other partner governments providing additional funding. The partner nations are either NATO members or close U.S. allies. It is being designed and built by an aerospace industry team led by Lockheed Martin. The F-35 took its first flight on 15 December 2006. Sony VAIO PCG-3D1M Battery

The United States intends to buy a total of 2,443 aircraft to provide the bulk of its tactical airpower for the US Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy over the coming decades. The United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, Canada,Netherlands, Norway, Turkey, Israel and Japan are part of the development program and intend to equip their air and/or naval forces with the F-35. Sony VAIO PCG-3G2M Battery

JSF Program requirements and selection

The JSF program was designed to replace the United States military F-16, A-10, F/A-18 (excluding newer E/F "Super Hornet" variants) and AV-8B tactical fighter aircraft. Sony VAIO PCG-5R1M Battery

To keep development, production, and operating costs down, a common design was planned in three variants that share 80 percent of their parts:

• F-35A, conventional take off and landing (CTOL) variant.
• F-35B, short-take off and vertical-landing (STOVL) variant.

F-35C, carrier-based CATOBAR (CV) variant. Sony VAIO PCG-7141M Battery

George Standridge of Lockheed Martin has said that the F-35 will be four times more effective than legacy fighters in air-to-air combat, eight times more effective than legacy fighters in air-to-ground combat, and three times more effective than legacy fighters in reconnaissance and suppression of air defenses –Sony VAIO PCG-7143M Battery

while having better range and requiring less logistics support and having around the same procurement costs (if development costs are ignored) as legacy fighters.^[13] Further, the design goals call for the F-35 to be the premier strike aircraft through 2040 and be second only to the F-22 Raptor in air superiority.^[14] Sony VAIO PCG-7151M Battery

While the actual JSF development contract was signed on 16 November 1996, the contract for System Development and Demonstration (SDD) was awarded on 26 October 2001 to Lockheed Martin, whose X-35 beat the Boeing X-32. Although both aircraft met or exceeded requirements, Sony VAIO PCG-7154M Battery

the X-35 design was considered to have less risk and more growth potential.^[15] The designation of the new fighter as "F-35" is out-of-sequence with standard DoD aircraft numbering,^[16] by which it should have been "F-24". It came as a surprise even to Lockheed, which had been referring to the aircraft in-house by this expected designation.^[17] Sony VAIO PCG-7162M Battery

Design phase

Based on wind tunnel testing, Lockheed Martin slightly enlarged its X-35 design into the F-35. The forward fuselage is 5 inches (130 mm) longer to make room for avionics. Correspondingly, the horizontal stabilators were moved 2 inches (51 mm) rearward to retain balance and control. Sony VAIO PCG-7181M Battery

The top surface of the fuselage was raised by 1 inch (25 mm) along the center line. Also, it was decided to increase the size of the F-35B STOVL variant's weapons bay to be common with the other two variants.^[15] Manufacturing of parts for the first F-35 prototype airframe began in November 2003.^[18] Sony VAIO PCG-41112M Battery

The F-35B STOVL variant was in danger of missing performance requirements in 2004 because it weighed too much; reportedly, by 2,200 lb (1,000 kg) or 8 percent. In response, Lockheed Martin added engine thrust and thinned airframe members; reduced the size of the common weapons bay and vertical stabilizers; Sony VAIO PCG-7153M Battery

re-routed some thrust from the roll-post outlets to the main nozzle; and redesigned the wing-mate joint, portions of the electrical system, and the portion of the aircraft immediately behind thecockpit.^[19] Many of the changes were applied to all three variants to maintain high levels of commonality. Sony VAIO PCG-71312M Battery

By September 2004, the weight reduction effort had reduced the aircraft's design weight by 2,700 pounds (1,200 kg).^[20]

On 7 July 2006, the US Air Force officially announced the name of the F-35: Lightning II, in honor of Lockheed's World War II-era twin-prop Lockheed P-38 Lightning and the Cold War-era jet, the English Electric Lightning. Sony VAIO PCG-7144M Battery

English Electric Company's aircraft division was a predecessor of F-35 partner BAE Systems. Lightning II was also an early company name for its fighter that was later named the F-22 Raptor. Sony VAIO PCG-7191L Battery

On 19 December 2008, Lockheed Martin rolled out the first weight-optimized F-35A (designated AF-1). It is the first F-35 to be produced at a full-rate production speed and is structurally identical to the production F-35As that will be delivered starting in 2010.^[24] Sony VAIO PCG-3C1M Battery

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics is the prime contractor and performs aircraft final assembly, overall system integration, mission system, and provides forward fuselage, wings and flight controls system. Northrop Grumman provides Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, electro-optical Distributed Aperture System (DAS), Sony VAIO PCG-3F1M Battery

Communications, Navigation, Identification (CNI), center fuselage, weapons bay, and arrestor gear. BAE Systems provides aft fuselage and empennages, horizontal and vertical tails, crew life support and escape systems, Electronic warfare systems, fuel system, and Flight Control Software (FCS1). Sony VAIO PCG-3H1M Battery

Alenia will perform final assembly for Italy and, according to an Alenia executive, assembly of all European aircraft with the exception of Turkey and the United Kingdom.^[25][26] The F-35 program has seen a great deal of investment in automated production facilities. For example, Handling Specialty produced the wing assembly platforms for Lockheed Martin.^[27] Sony VAIO PCG-3J1M Battery

 In November 2009, Jon Schreiber, head of F-35 international affairs program for the Pentagon, said that the U.S. will not share the software code for the F-35 with its allies.^[28]

As of 5 January 2009, six F-35s were complete, including AF-1 and AG-1, and 17 were in production. Sony VAIO PCG-8141M Battery

"Thirteen of the 17 in production are pre-production test aircraft, and all of those will be finished in 2009," said John R. Kent, acting manager of F-35 Lightning II Communications at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company. "The other four are the first production-model planes, and the first of those will be delivered in 2010 to the U.S. Sony VAIO PCG-8161M Battery

Air Force, and will go to Eglin Air Force Base."^[29] On 6 April 2009, US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates proposed speeding up production for the US to buy 2,443 F-35s.^[30]

In August 2010, Lockheed Martin announced delays in resolving a "wing-at-mate overlap" production problem, which would slow initial production.^[31] Sony VAIO PCG-3C2M Battery

In October 2011 two F-35B VTOL aircraft conducted three weeks of initial sea trials aboard USS Wasp (LHD-1), logging more than 28 hours of flight time including 72 short take-offs and 72 vertical landings.^[32] Sony VAIO PCG-5N2M Battery

Program cost increases and further delays

In 2006, the GAO warned that excessive concurrency in F-35 production and testing might result in expensive refits for several hundred aircraft planned to be produced before completion of tests.^[33] Sony VAIO PCG-5P1M Battery

In November 2010, the GAO found that "Managing an extensive, still-maturing global network of suppliers adds another layer of complexity to producing aircraft efficiently and on-time" and that "due to the extensive amount of testing still to be completed, the program could be required to make alterations to its production processes, Sony VAIO PCG-5S1M Battery

changes to its supplier base, and costly retrofits to produced and fielded aircraft, if problems are discovered."^[34] The United States Air Force (USAF) budget data in 2010, along with other sources, projects the F-35 to have a flyaway cost from US$89 million to US$200 million over the planned production of F-35s. Sony VAIO PCG-9Z1M Battery

In February 2011, the Pentagon put a price of $207.6 million for each of the 32 aircraft to be acquired in FY2012, rising to $304.15 million ($9,732.8/32) if its share of RDT&E spending is included.^[38][39] In 2011, program head Vice Adm. David Venlet confirmed that the concurrency built into the program "was a miscalculation".^[40] Sony VAIO PCG-7171M Battery

This was during a contract dispute where the Pentagon insisted that Lockheed Martin help cover the costs of applying fixes found during testing to aircraft already produced.^[41] Lockheed Martin objected that the cost sharing posed an uninsurable unbounded risk that the company could not cover, Sony VAIO PCG-7186M Battery

and later responded that the "concurrency costs for F-35 continue to reduce".^[42][43] However the Senate Armed Services Committee strongly backed the Pentagon position.^[44] In December 2011 Lockheed Martin agreed to a cost sharing agreement.^[45] The Aerospace Industries Association trade group warned that such changes would force them to change their behavior and anticipate cost overruns in their future contract bids.^[46] Sony VAIO PCG-81112M Battery

As of 2012, problems found in flight testing are expected to continue to lead to elevated levels of engineering changes (to be made to newly produced aircraft and retrofitted onto previously produced aircraft) through 2019.^[47] The total additional cost for concurrency in the program is around $1.3 billion.^[48] Sony VAIO PCG-31311M Battery

In 2012, Schwartz decried the "foolishness" of reliance on computer models to settle the final design of the aircraft before flight testing found the issues that needed redesign.^[49]

On 21 April 2009, media reports, citing Pentagon sources, said that during 2007 and 2008, Sony VAIO PCG-8152M Battery

computer spies had managed to copy and siphon off several terabytes of data related to the F-35's design and electronics systems, potentially enabling the development of defense systems against the aircraft.^[50] However, Lockheed Martin has rejected suggestions that the project has been compromised, Sony VAIO VPCP115JC/P Battery

saying that it "does not believe any classified information had been stolen".^[51] However other sources have suggested that the incident caused a redesign of the aircraft's hardware and software to be more resistant to cyber attack.^[52] BAE Systemswas reported to be the target of the cyber espionage that may have stolen secrets related to the F-35.^[53] Sony VAIO VPCP115JC/W Battery

On 9 November 2009, Ashton Carter, under-secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, acknowledged that the Pentagon "joint estimate team" (JET) had found possible future cost and schedule overruns in the project and that he would be holding meetings to attempt to avoid these.^[54] Sony VAIO VPCP115KG Battery

On 1 February 2010, Gates removed the JSF Program Manager, U.S. Marine Corps Major General David Heinz, and withheld $614 million in payments to Lockheed Martin because of program costs and delays.^[55][56] Sony VAIO VPCP116KG Battery

On 11 March 2010, a report from the Government Accountability Office to United States Senate Committee on Armed Services projected the overall unit cost of an F-35A to be $112M in today's money.^[57] In 2010, Pentagon officials disclosed that the F-35 program has exceeded its original cost estimates by more than 50 percent.^[58] Sony VAIO VPC-P116KX/B Battery

An internal Pentagon report critical of the JSF project states that "affordability is no longer embraced as a core pillar". On 24 March, Gates termed the recent cost overruns and delays as "unacceptable" in a testimony before the U.S. Congress. He characterized previous cost and schedule estimates for the project as "overly rosy". Sony VAIO VPC-P116KX/D Battery

However, Gates insisted the F-35 would become "the backbone of U.S. air combat for the next generation" and informed the Congress that he had expanded the development period by an additional 13 months and budgeted $3 billion more for the testing program while slowing down production.^[59] Sony VAIO VPC-P116KX/G Battery

Lockheed Martin expects to reduce government cost estimates by 20%.^[60]

In November 2010 as part of a cost-cutting measure, the co-chairs of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform suggested canceling procurement of the F-35B and halving orders of F-35As and F-35Cs. Sony VAIO VPC-P116KX/P Battery

At the same time Air Force Magazine reported that "Pentagon officials" are considering canceling the F-35B because its short range means that the bases or ships it operates from will be within range of hostile tactical ballistic missiles.^[64] However Lockheed Martin consultant Loren B. Sony VAIO VPC-P116KX/W Battery

Thompson said that this rumor is merely a result of the usual tensions between the US Navy and Marine Corps, and there is no alternative to the F-35B as an AV-8B replacement.^[65] He also confirmed that there would be further delays and cost increases in the development process because of technical problems with the aircraft and software, but blamed most of the delays and extra costs on redundant flight tests. Sony VAIO VPCP118JC Battery

The Center for Defense Information estimated that the program would be restructured with an additional year of delay and $5 billion in additional costs.^[68] On 5 November 2010, the Block 1 software flew for the first time on BF-4 which included information fusion and initial weapons-release capability.^[69] Sony VAIO VPCP118JC/B Battery

As of the end of 2010, only 15% of the software remains to be written, but this includes the most difficult sections such as data fusion.^[70] But in 2011 it was revealed that only 50% of the eight million lines of code had actually been written and that it would take another six years and 110 additional software engineers in order to complete the software for this new schedule.^[71] Sony VAIO VPCP118JC/P Battery

In January 2011 Defense Secretary Robert Gates expressed the Pentagon's frustration with the skyrocketing costs of the F-35 program when he said "The culture of endless money that has taken hold must be replaced by a culture of restraint." Focusing his attention on the troubled VTOL F-35B Gates ordered "a two-year probation", Sony VAIO VPCP118JC/W Battery

saying it "should be canceled" if corrections are unsuccessful.^[72] However, Gates has stated his support for the program.^[73] Some private analysts, such as Richard Aboulafia, of the Teal Group state that the whole F-35 program is becoming a money pit.^[72] However, on 20 January 2012 Gates' successor, Sony VAIO VPC-P118KX/B Battery

Leon Panetta, lifted the F-35B's probation, stating "The STOVL variant has made — I believe and all of us believe — sufficient progress."^[74]

Former Pentagon manager Paul G. Kaminski has said that the lack of a complete test plan has added five years to the JSF program.^[75] Sony VAIO VPC-P118KX/D Battery

As of February 2011, the main flaws with the aircraft are engine "screech", transonic wing roll-off and display flaws in the helmet-mounted display.^[76]

The current schedule has the delivery of basic combat capability aircraft in late 2015, followed by full capability block three software in late 2016.^[77] Sony VAIO VPC-P118KX/G Battery

The $56.4 billion development project for the aircraft should be completed in 2018 when the block five configuration is expected to be delivered, several years late and considerably over budget.^[78]

Delays in the F-35 program may lead to a "fighter gap" where America and other countries will lack sufficient jet fighters to cover their requirements.^[79] Sony VAIO VPC-P118KX/P Battery

Israel may seek to buy second-hand F-15s to cover its gap,^[80] while Australia may also seek to buy more American fighters from the USN to cover their own capability gap in the face of F-35 delays.^[81]

Initial Operational Capability (IOC) will be determined by software development rather than by hardware production or pilot training.^[82] Sony VAIO VPC-P118KX/W Battery

In May 2011, the Pentagon's top weapons buyer Ashton Carter said that its new $133 million unit price was not affordable.^[83]In 2011 The Economist warned that the F-35 was in danger of slipping into a "death spiral" where increasing per aircraft costs would lead to cuts in number of aircraft ordered which would lead to further cost increases and further order cuts.^[84] Sony VAIO VPCP119JC Battery

 Later that year four aircraft were cut from the fifth LRIP order to pay for cost overruns.^[85] And in 2012 a further two aircraft were cut.^[86] And Lockheed acknowledged that the slowing of purchases would increase the costs.^[87]David Van Buren, acquisition chief for the U.S. Air Force, Sony VAIO VPCP119JC/BI Battery

said that Lockheed would need to cut infrastructure to match the reduced market for their aircraft.^[88] Lockheed has said that the slowdown in American orders will free up capacity to meet the urgent short term needs of foreign partners for replacement fighters.^[89] Sony VAIO VPCP11S1E/B Battery

But Air Force Secretary Michael Donley said that there was no more money available for the project and that future price increases would be matched with cuts in the number of aircraft ordered.^[90] Later that month the Pentagon reported that costs had risen another 4.3 percent, partially as a result of production delays.^[91] Sony VAIO VPC-P11S1E/B Battery

 In 2012, the purchase of six out of 31 aircraft was tied to performance metrics of the program.^[92]

Japan has warned that it may halt their purchase if the unit costs increase, and Canada has indicated it has not fully committed to purchasing the aircraft.^[93][94] Sony VAIO VPCP11S1E/D Battery

The United States is projected to spend an estimated US$323 billion for development and procurement on the F-35 program, making it the most expensive defense program ever.^[95] The total lifecycle cost for the entire American fleet is estimated to be US$1.51 trillion over its 50-year life, or $618 million per plane.^[96] Sony VAIO VPC-P11S1E/D Battery

Testifying before a Canadian parliamentary committee in 2011, Rear Admiral Arne Røksund of Norway estimated that his country's 52 F-35 fighter jets will cost $769 million each over their operational lifetime.^[97]

Also in 2011 a Congressional Joint Strike Fighter Caucus was formed by some of the top recipients of Lockheed Martin contributions.^[98] Sony VAIO VPCP11S1E/G Battery

James Jay Carafano of the Heritage Foundation has suggested that it would be cheaper to build additional F-35s with known defective structures and fix these later than it would be to refit legacy aircraft to remain operational until full production of F-35s with full lifespan rated structural components could be built.^[99] Sony VAIO VPC-P11S1E/G Battery

The program delays have affected the program's worldwide supply chain, causing Australian Quickstep Holdings to struggle for capital, in spite of their 20-year contract with Lockheed Martin.^[100]

In order to reduce the estimated $1 trillion cost of the F-35 program over its 50-year lifetime, Sony VAIO VPCP11S1E/P Battery

the USAF is considering reducing Lockheed's role in Contractor Logistics Support for the fighter.^[101] Lockheed has responded that the trillion dollar estimate relies on future costs beyond its control such as USAF reorganizations and upgrades to the aircraft that have yet to be specified.^[102] Sony VAIO VPCP11S1E/W Battery

In 2012, in order to avoid further redesign delays, the US DoD accepted a reduced combat radius for the F-35A and a longer takeoff run for the F-35B.^]The F-35B's estimated radius has also decreased 15 percent from initial JSF goal. In a meeting in Sydney in March, the United States pledged to eight partner nations that there would be no more program delays.^[ Sony VAIO VPC-P11S1E/W Battery

On 31 May 2012, Lockheed Chief Executive Bob Stevens complained that the Defense Department's requirements for cost data were driving up the cost of the program.^[107] The same week he admitted that a strike over the company's plans to strip benefits from workers might cause a shortfall in the plan to produce 29 F-35s that year.^[108] Sony VAIO VPCP11Z9E/B Battery

 The striking union workers raised questions about the standards of the replacement workers, even as their own work had been cited for "inattention to production quality" with a 16% rework rate. The workers went on strike to protect pensions whose costs have been the subject of negotiations with the Department of Defense over the costs of the next batch of aircraft. Sony VAIO VPCS111FM/S Battery These same pension costs were cited by Fitch in their downgrade of the outlook for Lockheed Martin's stock price.^[112] Stevens, whose total compensation exceeds $25 million a year, said that while he hoped to bring down the costs of the program, the industrial base was not capable of meeting the government's expectations of affordability. Sony VAIO VPCS115EC Battery

 He was however able to force concessions on the workers while retaining the generous bonuses and pensions of the top management.^[115]

Concerns over performance and safety

In 2006 the F-35 was downgraded from "very low observable" to "low observable",Sony VAIO VPCS115FG Battery

a change former RAAF flight test engineer Peter Goon likened to increasing the radar cross section from a marble to a beach ball.^[116] A Parliamentary Inquiry asked what was the re-categorization of the terminology in the United States such that the rating was changed from Very Low Observable to Low Observable. Sony VAIO VPCS117GG Battery

The Department of Defence said that the change in categorization by the US was due to a revision in procedures for discussing stealth platforms in a public document. The previous decision to re-categorize in the public domain has now been reversed. Publicly released material now categorizes JSF as Very Low Observable (VLO).^[117] Sony VAIO VPCS117GGB Battery

In response to Air Power Australia's criticisms, Australia's Air Vice Marshal Osley said that "Air Power Australia (Kopp and Goon) claim that the F35 will not be competitive in 2020 and that Air Power Australia's criticisms mainly centre around F35's aerodynamic performance and stealth capabilities." Sony VAIO VPCS118EC Battery

Osley continued with, "these are inconsistent with years of detailed analysis that has been undertaken by Defence, the JSF program office, Lockheed Martin, the US services and the eight other partner nations. While aircraft developments such as the Russian PAK-FA or the Chinese J20, as argued by Airpower Australia, Sony VAIO VPCS119FJ/B Battery

show that threats we could potentially face are becoming increasingly sophisticated, there is nothing new regarding development of these aircraft to change Defence's assessment." He then said that he thinks that the Air Power Australia's "analysis is basically flawed through incorrect assumptions and a lack of knowledge of the classified F-35 performance information."^[118] Sony VAIO VPCS119GC Battery

Andrew Krepinevich has questioned the reliance on "short range" aircraft like the F-35 or F-22 to "manage" China in a future conflict and has suggested reducing the number of F-35s ordered in favor of a longer range platform like the Next-Generation Bomber, but Michael Wynne, Sony VAIO VPCS11AFJ Battery

then United States Secretary of the Air Force rejected this plan of action in 2007. However in 2011, the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA) pointed to the restructuring of the F-35 program and the return of the bomber project as a sign of their effectiveness, Sony VAIO VPCS11AGJ Battery

while Rebecca Grant said that the restructuring was a "vote of confidence" in the F-35 and "there is no other stealthy, survivable new fighter program out there".^[122] Lockheed has also said that the F-35 is designed to launch internally carried bombs at supersonic speed and internal missiles at maximum supersonic speed.^[123] Sony VAIO VPCS11AHJ Battery

In 2008 it was reported that RAND Corporation conducted simulated war games in which Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighters defeated the F-35.^[124] As a result of these media reports, then Australian defence minister Joel Fitzgibbon requested a formal briefing from the Australian Department of Defence on the simulation. Sony VAIO VPCS11AVJ Battery

This briefing stated that the reports of the simulation were inaccurate and did not actually compare the F-35's flight performance against other aircraft.^[125]

The Pentagon and Lockheed Martin added that these simulations did not address air-to-air combat. Sony VAIO VPCS11J7E/B Battery

A Lockheed Martin press-release points to USAF simulations regarding the F-35's air-to-air performance against potential adversaries described as "4th generation" fighters, in which it claims the F-35 is "400 percent" more effective. Major General Charles R. Davis, USAF, the F-35 program executive officer, Sony VAIO VPCS11M1E/W Battery

has stated that the "F-35 enjoys a significant Combat Loss Exchange Ratio advantage over the current and future air-to-air threats, to include Sukhois".^[127] The nature of the simulations, and the terms upon which the "400 percent" figure have been derived remains unclear. Sony VAIO VPCS11V9E Battery

In March 2012, Tom Burbage, and Gary Liberson, of Lockheed Martin addressed an Australian Parliamentary Committee about earlier assessments. They stated "Time has moved on since 2008 and we know a lot more about this airplane now than we knew then. ... Sony VAIO VPCS11V9E/B Battery

Our current assessment that we speak of is greater than 6 to 1 relative loss exchange ratio against, in 4 versus 8 engagement scenarios—4 blue F-35s versus 8 advanced red threats in the 2015 to 2020 time frame. And it is very important to note that is without the pilot in the loop and are the lowest number that we talk about, Sony VAIO VPCS11X9E/B Battery

the greater than 6 to 1 is when we include the pilot in the loop [simulator] activities". They said: "we actually have a fifth-gen airplane flying today. The F22 has been in many exercises and is much better than the simulations forecast. We have F35 flying today; Sony VAIO VPCS123FGB Battery

it has not been put into that scenario yet, but we have very high quality information on the capability of the sensors and the capability of the airplane, and we have represented the airplane fairly and appropriately in these large-scale campaign models that we are using. But it is not just us—it is our air force; it is your air force; Sony VAIO VPCS125EC Battery

it is all the other participating nations that do this; it is our navy and our marine corps that do these exercises. It is not Lockheed in a closet gleaning up some sort of result." Although the advanced threats are classified they indicated that all the first-tier air forces in the world would not look at analysis against inferior threats."^[128] Sony VAIO VPCS128EC Battery

Regarding the original plan to fit the F-35 with only two air-to-air missiles, Major Richard Koch, chief of USAF Air Combat Command’s advanced air dominance branch is reported to have said that "I wake up in a cold sweat at the thought of the F-35 going in with only two air-dominance weapons."^[129] Sony VAIO VPCS129GC Battery

However the Norwegians have been briefed on a plan to equip the F-35 with six AIM-120D missiles by 2019.^[130]

Former RAND author John Stillion has written of the F-35A's air-to-air combat performance that it “can’t turn, can’t climb, can’t run”, Sony VAIO VPCS12C7E/B Battery

but Lockheed Martin test pilot Jon Beesley has countered that in an air-to-air configuration the F-35 has almost as much thrust as weight and a flight control system that allows it to be fully maneuverable even at a 50-degree angle of attack.^[131]

Andrew Hoehn, Director of RAND Project Air Force, made the following statement: Sony VAIO VPCS12L9E/B Battery

 “Recently, articles have appeared in the Australian press with assertions regarding a war game in which analysts from the RAND Corporation were involved. Those reports are not accurate. RAND did not present any analysis at the war game relating to the performance of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, Sony VAIO VPCS12V9E/B Battery

nor did the game attempt detailed adjudication of air-to-air combat. Neither the game nor the assessments by RAND in support of the game undertook any comparison of the fighting qualities of particular fighter aircraft.” ^[132]

Chen Hu, editor-in-chief of World Military Affairs magazine has said that the F-35 is too Sony VAIO VPCW111XX/P Battery

costly because it attempts to provide the capabilities needed for all three American services in a common airframe.^[133] Dutch news program NOVA show interviewed US defense specialist Winslow T. Wheeler and aircraft designer Pierre Sprey who called the F-35 "heavy and sluggish" as well as having a "pitifully small load for all that money", Sony VAIO VPCW111XX/PC Battery

and went on to criticize the value for money of the stealth measures as well as lacking fire safety measures. His final conclusion was that any air force would be better off maintaining its fleets of F-16s and F/A-18s compared to buying into the F-35 program.^[134] Lockheed spokesman John Kent has said that the missing fire-suppression systems would have offered "very small" improvements to survivability.^[135] Sony VAIO VPCW111XX/T Battery

In the context of selling F-35s to Israel to match the F-15s that will be sold to Saudi Arabia, a senior U.S. defense official was quoted as saying that the F-35 will be "the most stealthy, sophisticated and lethal tactical fighter in the sky," and added "Quite simply, the F-15 will be no match for the F-35."^[136Sony VAIO VPCW111XX/W Battery

^]After piloting the aircraft, RAF Squadron Leader Steve Long said that, over its existing aircraft, the F-35 will give "the RAF and Navy a quantum leap in airborne capability."^[137]

Consultant to Lockheed Martin Loren B. Thompson has said that the "electronic edge F-35 Sony VAIO VPCW111XXP Battery

enjoys over every other tactical aircraft in the world may prove to be more important in future missions than maneuverability".^[138]

In 2011, Canadian politicians raised the issue of the safety of the F-35's reliance on a single engine (as opposed to a twin-engine configuration, which provides a backup in case of an engine failure). Sony VAIO VPCW111XXT Battery

Canada had previous experience with a high-accident rate with the single-engine Lockheed CF-104 Starfighterwith many accidents related to engine failures. Defence Minister Peter MacKay, when asked what would happen if the F-35’s single engine fails in the Far North, stated "It won’t".^[139] Sony VAIO VPCW111XXW Battery

In November 2011, a Pentagon study team identified the following 13 areas of concern that remained to be addressed in the F-35:^[140][141]

• The helmet-mounted display system does not work properly.

The fuel dump subsystem poses a fire hazard. Sony VAIO VPCW115XG Battery

• The Integrated Power Package is unreliable and difficult to service.
• The F-35C's arresting hook does not work.
• Classified "survivability issues", which have been speculated to be about stealth.^[140]

The wing buffet is worse than previously reported. Sony VAIO VPCW115XGP Battery

• The airframe is unlikely to last through the required lifespan.
• The flight test program has yet to explore the most challenging areas.
• The software development is behind schedule.

The aircraft is in danger of going overweight or, for the F-35B, not properly balanced for VTOL operations. Sony VAIO VPCW115XW/P Battery

• There are multiple thermal management problems. The air conditioner fails to keep the pilot and controls cool enough, the roll posts on the F-35B overheat, and using the afterburner damages the aircraft.
• The automated logistics information system is partially developed.

The lightning protection on the F-35 is uncertified, with areas of concern. Sony VAIO VPCW115XW/T Battery

In December 2011 the Pentagon and Lockheed came to an agreement to assure funding and delivery for a fifth order of early F-35 aircraft of yet undefined type in spite of general national austerity measures affecting the program.^[142] Sony VAIO VPCW115XW/W Battery

Michael Auslin of the American Enterprise Institute has questioned the capability of the F-35 to engage modern air defenses, in spite of Russia's own admission that their systems are vulnerable to the F-35.^[143][144]

Design

The F-35 appears to be a smaller, slightly more conventional,  Sony VAIO VPCW117XC/P Battery

single-engine sibling of the sleeker, twin-engine Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, and indeed drew elements from it. The exhaust duct design was inspired by the General Dynamics Model 200 design, which was proposed for a 1972 supersonic VTOL fighter requirement for the Sea Control Ship.^[145] Sony VAIO VPCW117XC/T Battery

For specialized development of the F-35B STOVL variant, Lockheed consulted with the Yakovlev Design Bureau, purchasing design data from their development of the Yakovlev Yak-141 "Freestyle".Although several experimental designs have been built and tested since the 1960s including the Navy's unsuccessful Rockwell XFV-12, the F-35B is to be the first operational supersonic, STOVL stealth fighter.^[148] Sony VAIO VPCW117XC/W Battery

The F-35 has a maximum speed of over Mach 1.6. With a maximum takeoff weight of 60,000 lb (27,000 kg),^{[N 2][150]} the Lightning II is considerably heavier than the lightweight fighters it replaces. In empty and maximum gross weights, it more closely resembles the single-seat, single-engine Republic F-105 Thunderchief, Sony VAIO VPCW119XJ Battery

which was the largest single-engine fighter of theVietnam war era. However the F-35's modern engine delivers over 60 percent more thrust in an aircraft of the same weight so that in thrust to weight and wing loading it is much closer to a comparably equipped F-16.^{[N 3]} Sony VAIO VPCW119XJ/P Battery

Acquisition deputy to the assistant secretary of the Air Force, Lt. Gen. Mark D. "Shack" Shackelford has said that the F-35 is designed to be America's "premier surface-to-air missile killer and is uniquely equipped for this mission with cutting edge processing power, synthetic aperture radar integration techniques, and advanced target recognition."^[152][153] Sony VAIO VPCW119XJ/W Battery

Some improvements over current-generation fighter aircraft are:

Durable, low-maintenance stealth technology, using structural fiber mat instead of the high-maintenance coatings of legacy stealth platforms;^[154] Sony VAIO VPCW11AXJ Battery

Integrated avionics and sensor fusion that combine information from off- and on-board sensors to increase the pilot'ssituational awareness and improve target identification and weapon delivery, and to relay information quickly to other command and control (C2) nodes; Sony VAIO VPCW11S1E/P Battery

• High speed data networking including IEEE 1394b^[155] and Fibre Channel.^[156]

The Autonomic Logistics Global Sustainment (ALGS), Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS) and Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) help ensure aircraft uptime with minimal maintenance manpower.^[157] Sony VAIO VPCW11S1E/T Battery

• Electrohydrostatic actuators run by a power-by-wire flight-control system.^[158]

Lockheed Martin claims the F-35 is intended to have close and long-range air-to-air capability second only to that of the F-22 Raptor.^[6] The company has suggested that the F-35 could also replace the USAF's F-15C/D fighters in the air superiority role and the F-15E Strike Sony VAIO VPCW11S1E/W Battery

Eagle in the ground attack role, but it does not have the range or payload of either F-15 model.^[159] The F-35A does carry a similar air-to-air armament as the conceptual Boeing F-15SE Silent Eaglewhen both aircraft are configured for low observable operations and has over 80 percent of the larger aircraft's combat radius.^[160] Sony VAIO VPCW121AX Battery

Lockheed Martin has said that the F-35 has the advantage over the F-22 in basing flexibility and "advanced sensors and information fusion".^[161]

The majority of the structural composites in the F-35 are made out of bismaleimide (BMI) and composite epoxy material.^[162] Sony VAIO VPCW126AG Battery

However the F-35 will be the first mass produced aircraft to include structural nanocomposites, carbon nanotube reinforced epoxy.^[163]

The F-35 program has learned from the corrosion problems that the F-22 had when it was first introduced in 2005. Sony VAIO VPCW127JC/P Battery

The F-35 uses a gap filler that causes lessgalvanic corrosion to the skin, is designed with fewer gaps in its skin that require gap filler, and has better drainage.^[164]

A United States Navy study found that the F-35 will cost 30 to 40 percent more to maintain than current jet fighters.^[165] Sony VAIO VPCW127JC/T Battery

A Pentagon study found that it may cost $1 trillion to maintain the entire fleet over its lifetime.^[166]

Engines

The F-35's main engine is the Pratt & Whitney F135. The General Electric/Rolls-Royce F136 was under development as an alternative engine until December 2011 when the manufacturers canceled work on it. Sony VAIO VPCW127JC/W Battery

 The F135/F136 engines are not designed to supercruise in the F-35.^[169] The STOVL versions of both power plants use the Rolls-Royce LiftSystem, patented by Lockheed Martin and developed and built by Rolls-Royce. This system is more like the Russian Yak-141 and German VJ 101D/E than the preceding generation of STOVL designs,^[170] Sony VAIO VPCW127JC/WZ Battery

such as the Harrier Jump Jet in which all of the lifting air went through the main fan of the Rolls-Royce Pegasus engine.^[171]

The Lift System is composed of a lift fan, drive shaft, two roll posts and a "Three Bearing Swivel Module" (3BSM).^[172] Sony VAIO VPCW12AAJ Battery

The 3BSM is a thrust vectoring nozzle which allows the main engine exhaust to be deflected downward at the tail of the aircraft. The lift fan is near the front of the aircraft and provides a counter-balancing thrust using two counter-rotating blisks.^[173] It is powered by the engine's low-pressure (LP) turbine via a drive shaft and gearbox. Sony VAIO VPCW12AKJ Battery

Roll control during slow flight is achieved by diverting unheated engine bypass air through wing-mounted thrust nozzles called Roll Posts.^[174][175] Like lift engines, the added lift fan machinery increases payload capacity during vertical flight, but is dead weight during horizontal flight. Sony VAIO VPCW12AVJ Battery

The cool exhaust of the fan also reduces the amount of hot, high-velocity air that is projected downward during vertical take off, which can damage runways and aircraft carrier decks.

To date, F136 funding has come at the expense of other parts of the program, reducing the number of aircraft built and increasing their costs.^[176] Sony VAIO VPCW12S1E/P Battery

The F136 team has claimed that their engine has a greater temperature margin which may prove critical for VTOL operations in hot, high altitude conditions.^[177]

Pratt & Whitney is also testing higher thrust versions of the F135, partly in response to GE's claims that the F136 is capable of producing more thrust than the 43,000 lbf (190 kN) Sony VAIO VPCW12S1E/T Battery

supplied by early F135s. The F135 has demonstrated a maximum thrust of over 50,000 lbf (220 kN) during testing.^[178] The F-35's Pratt & Whitney F135 is the most powerful engine ever installed in a fighter aircraft.^[179] Sony VAIO VPCW12S1E/W Battery

The F135 is the second (radar) stealthy afterburning jet engine and like the Pratt & Whitney F119 from which it was derived, has suffered from pressure pulsations in the afterburner at low altitude and high speed or "screech". In both cases this problem was fixed during development of the fighter program.^[180] Sony VAIO VPCW213AG/L Battery

Turbine bearing health in the engine will be monitored with thermoelectric powered wireless sensors.^[181]

Armament

The F-35A includes a GAU-22/A, a four-barrel version of the GAU-12 Equalizer 25 mm cannon.^[182] Sony VAIO VPCW213AG/P Battery

The cannon is mounted internally with 182 rounds for the F-35A or in an external pod with 220 rounds for the F-35B and F-35C.^[183][184] The gun pod for the B and C variants will have stealth features. This pod could be used for different equipment in the future, such as electronic warfare equipment, reconnaissance equipment, or possibly a rearward-facing radar.^[185] Sony VAIO VPCW213AG/T Battery

It has two internal weapons bays, and external hardpoints that can mount four underwing pylons and two near wingtip pylons. The two outer hardpoints can only carry pylons for the AIM-9X Sidewinder and AIM-132 ASRAAM short-range air-to-air missiles (AAM).^[186] Sony VAIO VPCW213AG/W Battery

The other pylons can carry the AIM-120 AMRAAM BVR AAM, Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missile, AGM-158 Joint Air to Surface Stand-off Missile (JASSM) cruise missile, and guided bombs. The external pylons can carry missiles, bombs, and fuel tanks at the expense of reduced stealth.^[187] Sony VAIO VPCW215AG/L Battery

An air-to-air load of eight AIM-120s and two AIM-9s is possible using internal and external weapons stations; a configuration of six 2,000 lb (910 kg) bombs, two AIM-120s and two AIM-9s can also be arranged.^[188][189]

Internally, up to two 2,000 lb (910 kg) air-to-ground bombs can be carried in A and C models (two 1,000 lb (450 kg) bombs in the B model, Sony VAIO VPCW217JC Battery

) along with two smaller weapons, normally expected to be air-to-air missiles. The weapon bays can carry AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-132 ASRAAM, theJoint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) – up to 2,000 lb (910 kg), the Joint Stand off Weapon (JSOW), Brimstone anti-armor missiles, and Cluster Munitions (WCMD). Sony VAIO VPCW217JC/L Battery

With its payload capability, the F-35 can carry more weapons payload than the legacy fighters it is to replace.^[191]

Lockheed Martin states that the weapons load can also be configured as all-air-to-ground or all-air-to-air, Sony VAIO VPCW217JC/P Battery

and has suggested that a Block 5 version will be able to carry three internal weapons per bay instead of two, replacing the heavy bomb with two smaller weapons such as AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles.^[124]Upgrades include up to four GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs (SDB) in each bay (three per bay in F-35B,^[192Sony VAIO VPCW217JC/T Battery

^] or four GBU-53/B in each bay for all F-35 variants;^[193]The MBDA Meteor air-to-air missile is currently being adapted to fit four internally in the missile spots and may be integrated into the F-35. A modified Meteor design with smaller tailfins for the F-35 was revealed in September 2010.^[194] Sony VAIO VPCW217JC/W Battery

The United Kingdom had originally planned to put up to four AIM-132 ASRAAM internally but this has been changed to carry 2 internal and 2 external ASRAAMs.^[195] The external ASRAAMs are planned to be carried on "stealthy" pylons to increase the F-35's radar cross section slightly; Sony VAIO VPCW218JC Battery

the missile allow attacks to slightly beyond visual range without using radar that might alert the target.^[186][196]

Norway and Australia are funding a program to adapt the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) to fit the internal bays of the F-35. Sony VAIO VPCW218JC/L Battery

This will be a multi-role version, named the Joint Strike Missile (JSM), and will be the only cruise missile to fit the internal bays. Studies have shown that the F-35 would be able to carry two of these internally, while four additional missiles could be carried externally. The missile has an expected range in excess of 150 nmi (278 km).^[197] Sony VAIO VPCW218JC/P Battery

Solid-state lasers were being developed as optional weapons for the F-35 as of 2002. The F-35 is expected to take on the Wild Weasel mission, but there are no planned anti-radiation missiles for internal stealthy carrage.^[201] The B61 nuclear bomb was scheduled for deployment in 2017, but delays in the F-35 program may delay this.^[202] Sony VAIO VPCW218JC/T Battery

Stealth and signatures

The F-35 has been designed to have a low radar cross section primarily due to the shape of the aircraft and the use ofstealthy materials used in construction, including fiber-mat.^[154] Unlike the previous generation of fighters, the F-35 was designed with a shape for low-observable characteristics.^[203] Sony VAIO VPCW218JC/W Battery

The Teen Series of fighters (F-15, F-16, F/A-18) were notable for always carrying large external fuel tanks, but in order to avoid negating its stealth characteristics the F-35 must fly most missions without external fuel tanks. Unlike the F-16 and F/A-18, the F-35 lacks leading edge extensions and instead uses stealth-friendly chines for vortex lift in the same fashion as the SR-71 Blackbird.^[185] Sony VAIO VPCW219AJ/L Battery

The small bumps just forward of the engine air intakes form part of the diverterless supersonic inlet (DSI) which is a simpler, lighter means to ensure high-quality airflow to the engine over a wide range of conditions. These inlets also crucially improve the aircraft's low-observable characteristics.^[204] Sony VAIO VPCW219AJ/P Battery

In spite of being smaller than the F-22, the F-35 has a larger radar cross section. It is said to be roughly equal to a metal golf ball rather than the F-22's metal marble.^[205] The F-22 was designed to be difficult to detect by all types of radars and from all directions.^[206]  Sony VAIO VPCW219AJ/W Battery

The F-35 on the other hand manifests its lowest radar signature from the frontal aspect because of compromises in design. Its surfaces are shaped to best defeat radars operating in the X and upper S band, which are typically found in fighters, surface-to-air missiles and their tracking radars, although the aircraft would be easier to detect using other radar frequencies.^[206] Sony VAIO VPCW21AAJ Battery

Because the shape of the aircraft is so important to its radar cross section, special care must be taken to maintain the "outer mold line" during production.^[207] Ground crews require Repair Verification Radar (RVR) test sets in order to verify the RCS of the aircraft after performing repairs, Sony VAIO VPCW21AKJ Battery

which was not a concern for previous generations of non-stealth fighters.^[208][209]

Low observable aircraft must consider different types of detection and so the F-35 is not only radar stealthy, but it also has infrared and visual signature reduction incorporated.^[210][211] Sony VAIO VPCW21AVJ Battery

In late 2008 the Air Force revealed that the F-35 would be about twice as loud at takeoff as the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle and up to four times as loud during landing.^[212] As a result, residents near Luke Air Force Base, Arizona and Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, possible home bases for the jet, Sony VAIO VPCY115FGS Battery

requested that the Air Force conduct environmental impact studies concerning the F-35's noise levels.^[212] The city of Valparaiso, Florida, adjacent to Eglin AFB, threatened in February 2009 to sue the Air Force over the impending arrival of the F-35s, but this lawsuit was settled in March 2010. Sony VAIO VPCY115FX/BI Battery

Moreover, it was reported in March 2009 that testing by Lockheed Martin and the Royal Australian Air Force revealed that the F-35 was not as loud as first reported, being "only about as noisy as an F-16 fitted with a Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-200 engine" and "quieter than the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor and the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet."^[216] Sony VAIO VPCY115FXBI Battery

However according to an acoustics study done by Lockheed Martin and the US Air Force, the noise levels of the F-35 are found to be comparable to the F-22 Raptor and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. And a USAF environmental impact study found that replacing the F-16s with F-35s at Tucson International Airport would subject more than 21 times as many residents to extreme noise levels.^[218] Sony VAIO VPCY118EC Battery

Cockpit

The F-35 features a full-panel-width "panoramic cockpit display" (PCD) glass cockpit, with dimensions of 20 by 8 inches (50 by 20 centimeters).^[219] A cockpit speech-recognition system (Direct Voice Input) provided by Adacel is planned to improve the pilot's ability to operate the aircraft over the current-generation interface. Sony VAIO VPCY118GX/BI Battery

The F-35 will be the first US operational fixed-wing aircraft to use this system, although similar systems have been used in AV-8B and trialled in previous US jets, particularly the F-16 VISTA.^[220]

A helmet-mounted display system (HMDS) will be fitted to all models of the F-35. Sony VAIO VPCY119FJ/S Battery

A helmet-mounted cueing system is already in service with the F-15s, F-16s and F/A-18s.^[221] While some fighters have offered HMDS along with a head up display (HUD), this will be the first time in several decades that a front line tactical jet fighter has been designed without a HUD.^[222] Sony VAIO VPCY11AFJ Battery

The F-35 is equipped with a right-hand side stick controller in a standard Lockheed Martin HOTAS configuration.

The Martin-Baker US16E ejection seat is used in all F-35 variants.^[223] The US16E seat design balances major performance requirements, including safe-terrain-clearance limits, Sony VAIO VPCY11AGJ Battery

pilot-load limits, and pilot size. It uses a twin-catapult system that is housed in side rails.^[224] The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon has a similar cockpit layout and is being used to train pilots until training F-35s become available.^[225]

The F-35 uses a derivative version of the oxygen system that has been implicated in fatal incidents onboard the F-22. Sony VAIO VPCY11AHJ Battery

But the F-35 does not fly as high or as fast as the F-22; its flight profile is similar to other fighters that use such systems without much trouble.^{[226][227][228]}

Sensors and avionics

The F-35's sensor and communications suite is intended to facilitate situational awareness, command-and-control and network-centric warfare capability.^[ Sony VAIO VPCY11AVJ Battery

The main sensor on board the F-35 is its AN/APG-81 AESA-radar, designed by Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems.^[230] It is augmented by the Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) mounted under the nose of the aircraft, designed by Lockheed Martin.^[231] This gives the same capabilities as the Lockheed Martin Sniper XR while avoiding making the aircraft more easily detectable. Sony VAIO VPCY11M1E/S Battery

Six additional passive infrared sensors are distributed over the aircraft as part of Northrop Grumman's AN/AAQ-37 distributed aperture system (DAS),^[25] which acts as a missile warning system, reports missile launch locations, detects and tracks approaching aircraft spherically around the F-35, Sony VAIO VPCY11S1E Battery

and replaces traditional night vision goggles for night operations and navigation. All DAS functions are performed simultaneously, in every direction, at all times. The F-35's Electronic Warfare systems are designed by BAE Systems and include Northrop Grumman components.^[234] Sony VAIO VPCY11V9E/S Battery

The AN/ASQ-239 (Barracuda) system is an improved version of the AN/ALR-94 EW suite on the F-22. The AN/ASQ-239 provides sensor fusion of RF and IR tracking functions, basic radar warning, multispectral countermeasures for self-defense against threat missiles, situational awareness and electronic surveillance. Sony VAIO VPCY218EC/BI Battery

It uses 10 RF antennae over the leading and trailing edges of the wing leading and trailing edges of the horizontal tail.^[235][236]

The communications, navigation and identification (CNI) suite is designed by Northrop Grumman and includes the Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL). Sony VAIO VPCY218EC/G Battery

The F-35 will be the first jet fighter that has sensor fusion that combines both radio frequency and IR tracking for continuous target detection and identification in all directions which is shared via MADL to other platforms without compromising low observability.^[149] Sony VAIO VPCY218EC/L Battery

The F-35 has been designed with synergy between sensors as a specific requirement, with the "senses" of the aircraft expected to provide a more cohesive picture of the reality around it, and be available in principle for use in any possible way, and any possible combination with one another. Sony VAIO VPCY218EC/P Battery

All of the sensors feed directly into the main processors to support the entire mission of the aircraft. For example the AN/APG-81 functions not just as a multi-mode radar, but also as part of the aircraft's electronic warfare system.^[237]

Unlike previous aircraft, such as the F-22, all software for the F-35 is written in C++ for faster code development. Sony VAIO VPCY21S1E/L Battery

The Integrity DO-178B real-time operating system (RTOS) from Green Hills Software runs on COTS Freescale PowerPC processors.^[238] The final Block 3 software for the F-35 is planned to have 8.6 million lines of software code.^[239] The scale of the program has led to a software crisis as officials continue to discover that additional software needs to be written.^[240] Sony VAIO VPCY21S1E/P Battery

General Norton Schwartz has said that the software is the biggest factor that might delay the USAF's initial operational capability which is now scheduled for April 2016.^[241] Michael Gilmore, Director of Operational Test & Evaluation, has written that, Sony VAIO VPCY21S1E/SI Battery

"the F-35 mission systems software development and test is tending towards familiar historical patterns of extended development, discovery in flight test, and deferrals to later increments."^[242]

The F-35's electronic warfare systems are intended to detect hostile aircraft first, Sony VAIO VPCZ110 Battery

which can then be scanned with the electro-optical system and action taken to engage or evade the opponent before the F-35 is detected.^[237] The CATbird avionics testbed for the F-35 program has proved capable of detecting and jamming F-22 radars.^[243]

The F-35 was previously considered a platform for the Next Generation Jammer, but attention has shifted to the use of unmanned platforms.^[244] Sony VAIO VPCZ110GB/BI Battery

Helmet-mounted display system

The F-35 does not need to be physically pointing at its target for weapons to be successful. This is possible because of sensors that can track and target a nearby aircraft from any orientation, provide the information to the pilot through his helmetSony VAIO VPCZ112GD/S Battery

 (and therefore visible no matter which way they are looking), and provide the seeker-head of a missile with sufficient information. Recent missile types provide a much greater ability to pursue a target regardless of the launch orientation, called "High Off-Boresight" capability, Sony VAIO VPCZ112GX/S Battery

although the speed and direction in which the munition is launched affect the effective range of the weapon. Sensors use combined radio frequency and infra red (SAIRST) to continually track nearby aircraft while the pilot's helmet-mounted display system (HMDS) displays and selects targets. Sony VAIO VPCZ114GX/S Battery

The helmet system replaces the display suite-mounted head-up display used in earlier fighters.

The F-35's systems provide the edge in the "observe, orient, decide, and act" OODA loop; stealth and advanced sensors aid in observation (while being difficult to observe), Sony VAIO VPCZ115 Battery

automated target tracking helps in orientation, sensor fusion simplifies decision making, and the aircraft's controls allow the pilot to keep their focus on the targets, rather than the controls of their aircraft.^{[246][N 4]} Sony VAIO VPCZ115FC/B Battery

The problems with the current Vision Systems International helmet-mounted display led Lockheed Martin to issue a draft specification for proposals for an alternative on 1 March 2011.^[247] The alternative system will be based on Anvis-9 night vision goggles.^[248] It will be supplied by BAE systems.^[249] Sony VAIO VPCZ115FC/S Battery

 The BAE system does not yet include all the features of the VSI helmet and if successful will have the remaining features incorporated ^[250] Use of the BAE system would also require a cockpit redesign.^[251]

In 2011, Lockheed granted VSI a contract to fix the vibration, jitter, night-vision and sensor display problems in their helmet-mounted display. Sony VAIO VPCZ116 Battery

The improved displays are expected to be delivered in third quarter of 2013.^[252]

Maintenance

The program's maintenance concept is for any F-35 to be maintained in any F-35 maintenance facility and that all F-35 parts in all bases will be globally tracked and shared as needed.^[253] Sony VAIO VPCZ116GX/S Battery The aircraft has been designed for ease of maintenance, with 95% of all field replaceable parts "one deep" where nothing else has to be removed to get to the part in question. For instance the ejection seat can be replaced without removing the canopy, Sony VAIO VPCZ117 Battery

the aircraft uses low-maintenance electro-hydrostatic actuators instead of hydraulic systems and an all-composite skin without the fragile coatings found on earlier stealth aircraft.^[254]

Criticisms of the F-35 maintenance concept include the decision to not utilize engine cowling doors. Sony VAIO VPCZ117FC/B Battery

The decision was instead to use bulkhead-mounted airframe panels secured with fasteners across the bottom of the engine bay. This delays maintenance due to the lengthy removal process of the panels. F-35 maintainers have also noted that the bulkheads block access to several critical engine-mounted parts, Sony VAIO VPCZ118 Battery

which means the engine must be removed from the aircraft to access the required parts. Such delays in maintenance practices hinder flight test operations.

Testing

The first F-35A (designated AA-1) was rolled out in Fort Worth, Texas on 19 February 2006. Sony VAIO VPCZ118GC/B Battery

The aircraft underwent extensive ground testing at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth in late 2006. In September 2006 the first engine run of the F135 afterburner turbofan in an airframe and tests were completed; the first time that the F-35 was completely functional on its own power systems.^[255] Sony VAIO VPCZ118GX/S Battery

On 15 December 2006, the F-35A completed its maiden flight.^[256] A modifiedBoeing 737–300, the Lockheed CATBird is used as an avionics test bed inside of which are racks holding all of F-35's avionics, as well as a complete F-35 cockpit.^[124]

On 31 January 2008 at Fort Worth, Texas, Lt Col James "Flipper" Kromberg of the U.S. Sony VAIO VPCZ119 Battery

Air Force became the first military service pilot to evaluate the F-35, taking the aircraft through a series of maneuvers on its 26th flight. F-35 AA-1, on its 34th test flight, began aerial refueling testing in March 2008.^[257]Another milestone was reached on 13 November 2008, when the AA-1 flew at supersonic speeds for the first time, Sony VAIO VPCZ119FJ/S Battery

reaching Mach 1.05 at 30,000 ft (9,144 m) making four transitions through the sound barrier, for a total of eight minutes of supersonic flight.^[258]

The first F-35B (designated BF-1) made its maiden flight on 11 June 2008. The flight, which featured a conventional takeoff, was piloted by BAE Systems' test pilot Graham Tomlinson. Sony VAIO VPCZ119GC/X Battery

The BF-1 is the second of 19 System Development and Demonstration (SDD) F-35s, and the first to use new weight-optimized design features that will apply to all future F-35s.^[259] Testing of the STOVL propulsion system in flight began on 7 January 2010.Sony VAIO VPCZ119L Battery

The STOVL system was used for 14 minutes of the 48 minute test flight while the aircraft slowed from 210 knots (390 km/h) to 180 knots (330 km/h).^[260][261] The F-35B's first hover (full stop in mid-air) happened on 17 March 2010, followed by a STOVL landing,^[262] and on 18 March 2010 the first vertical landing was performed.^[263] Sony VAIO VPCZ119R/B Battery

 During a test flight on 10 June 2010, the F-35B became the second STOVL aircraft to achieve supersonic speeds,^[264] the first being its ancestor, the X-35B, which achieved the same feat on 20 July 2001.^[265] In January 2011, Lockheed Martin reported it had solved a problem with the aluminum bulkhead used only on the F-35B which had cracked during ground testing.^[266] Sony VAIO VPCZ119R/S Battery

Although many of the initial flight test targets have been accomplished, the F-35 testing program completed "just under 100 sorties and about as many hours in 2.5 years" by June 2009 and was falling significantly behind schedule.^[267] A 2008 Pentagon Joint Estimate Team (JET I) estimated that the program was two years behind the latest public schedule, Sony VAIO VPCZ11AFJ Battery

and a 2009 Joint Estimate Team (JET II) revised that estimate to predict a 30-month delay.^[268] Due to those delays in the testing program, production numbers will be reduced by 122 aircraft through 2015 in order to provide additional funds for development.^[269] Sony VAIO VPCZ11AGJ Battery

Those additional funds will add $2.8 billion to the development funds and internal memos suggest that the official timeline will be extended by 13 months (not the 30 months the JET II team predicted the slip would be).^[268] The success of the Joint Estimate Team has led Ashton Carter to call for more such teams for other poorly performing Pentagon projects.^[270] Sony VAIO VPCZ11AVJ Battery

In June 2009, the F-35s APG-81 active electronically scanned array radar was integrated in the Northern Edge 2009 large-scale military exercise when it was mounted on the front of a Northrop Grumman test aircraft. The APG-81 test event represented a major milestone in electronic protection testing in an operationally representative environment, Sony VAIO VPCZ11CGX/X Battery

accomplished years ahead of normal developmental timelines and providing a significant risk reduction opportunity for the aircraft's key sensor. The test events "validated years of laboratory testing versus a wide array of threat systems, showcasing the extremely robust electronic warfare capabilities of the world's most advanced fighter fire control radar."^[271] Sony VAIO VPCZ11DGX/SJ Battery

Nearly 30 percent of all the test flights have required more than routine maintenance to get the aircraft flyable again.^[272] As of March 2010, the F-35 program had used a million more man-hours than predicted and flight testing is expected to result in further design changes.^[273] Sony VAIO VPCZ11FHX/XQ Battery

The United States Navy has projected that lifecycle costs over a fleet life of 65 years for all of the American F-35s will be $442 billion higher than the U.S. Air Force has projected.^[274] The delay in the F-35 program is expected to lead to a shortfall of around 100 jet fighters in the Navy/Marines team. Sony VAIO VPCZ11V9R/B Battery

Given careful management, service life extension of the Marines' legacy F/A-18s, and more burdens placed on Navy fighters, it may be possible to reduce this shortfall.^[275]

The F-35C carrier variant's maiden flight took place on 7 June 2010, also at NAS Fort Worth JRB. Sony VAIO VPCZ11X9E/B Battery

The 57 minute flight was executed by Lockheed test pilot Jeff "Slim" Knowles, who was the chief test pilot for the F-117 program.^[276] A total of 11 U.S. Air Force F-35s are to arrive in Fiscal Year 2011.^[277]

On 9 March 2011 all F-35s were grounded after a dual generator failure and oil leak in flight. This was the first significant flight failure since 2007.^[278] Sony VAIO VPCZ11Z9E/B Battery

Seven of the ten test aircraft were cleared to fly four days later. These aircraft have an older model of generators, unlike the kind that failed in flight.^[279]The problem was found to be the result of faulty maintenance rather than a design or construction issue.^[280] Sony VAIO VPCZ125GX/S Battery

In June 2011, the F-35's sensors (radar and DAS) were tested in an operational exercise named Northern Edge 2011. Navy Cmdr. Erik Etz, the deputy mission systems integrated product team lead from the F-35 JSF Program Office, said the rigorous testing of both sensors Sony VAIO VPCZ127FC Battery

during Northern Edge 2011 served as a significant risk-reduction step for the F-35 JSF program. "By putting these systems in this operationally rigorous environment, we have demonstrated key war fighting capabilities well in advance of scheduled operational testing," Commander Etz added. Sony VAIO VPCZ128GC Battery

From 3–18 August 2011, the F-35 fleet was grounded. The precautionary grounding was in effect while the Joint Program Office investigated the cause of an electrical system failure on test aircraft, F-35A AF-4 during ground tests. The Honeywell-built integrated power package (IPP) Sony VAIO VPCZ12M9E/B Battery

failed during a standard engine test following a maintenance check on 2 August at Edwards Air Force Base. The IPP is relatively unheralded, but plays a major role in the F-35's performance. It combines the functions of an environment control unit, engine starter and back-up power generator into a single system. Sony VAIO VPCZ13M9E/B Battery

The IPP has been a target for concern during the development phase, even though it has never failed before in more than 1,500 flight hours. The JPO was assessing the impact of the grounding on the schedule for the system development and demonstration phase, but the latest version of the schedule included margin for unexpected problems.^[285] Sony VAIO VPCZ13V9E/X Battery

On 10 August 2011, ground operations for the F-35 Program were reinstituted while the investigation was ongoing; government and contractor engineering teams, after reviewing initial data, determined that the fleet could safely resume Development Test ground operations. Sony VAIO VPCZ13Z9E/X Battery

Preliminary root cause inquiries indicate that a control valve did not function properly, which in turn led to the IPP failure. Monitoring of this valve is the mitigating action required to allow ground operations. The F-35 team is revising ground monitoring procedures to ensure testing involving the IPP takes place safely. Sony VAIO VPCZZZHJ Battery

While initiating DT ground operations is a "major step" for the F-35 fleet returning to flight, further reviews are required prior to lifting the suspension of flight operations for the 20 F-35s currently in flying status. On 18 August 2011, the flight ban was lifted for 18 of the 20 fighters. Sony VAIO VPZ117 Battery

Two aircraft based at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida will remain grounded because they lack the monitoring systems used in developmental test aircraft that can detect any problems in flight.^[288]

On 25 October 2011 the F-35A reached its designed top speed of Mach 1.6 for the first time.^[289] Sony VAIO VPZ118 Battery

 Further testing demonstrated a speed of Mach 1.61 and 9.9g.^[290]

During testing in 2011, all eight landing tests of the F-35C tail hook failed to catch the arresting wire; the hook design is being modified to address the problem.^[291]

Training

In 2011, the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation warned that the USAF's plans to start unmonitored flight training that fall "risks the occurrence of a serious mishap".^[292] Sony VAIO VPZ119 Battery

 The leaders of the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services have called on Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to address the issue.^[293]

The F-35A and F-35B are expected to be cleared for flight training in early 2012.^[294] A military flight release for the F-35A was issued on 28 February 2012.^[295] Sony VPCM11M1E/B Battery

Procurement and international participation

While the United States is the primary customer and financial backer, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, Turkey, Australia, Norway and Denmark have agreed to contribute US$4.375 billion toward the development costs of the program.^[296] Sony VPCM11M1E/W Battery

Total development costs are estimated at more than US$40 billion (underwritten largely by the United States), while the purchase of an estimated 2,400 aircraft is expected to cost an additional US$200 billion.^[297] The initial plan was that the nine major partner nations would acquire over 3,100 F-35s through 2035.^[298Sony VPCM12M1E/L Battery

^] Sales to partner nations are made through the Pentagon's Foreign Military Sales program.^[299]

There are three levels of international participation. The levels generally reflect the financial stake in the program, Sony VPCM12M1E/P Battery

the amount of technology transfer and subcontracts open for bid by national companies, and the order in which countries can obtain production aircraft. The United Kingdom is the sole "Level 1" partner, contributing US$2.5 billion, which was about 10% of the planned development costs^[300] Sony VPCM12M1E/W Battery

under the 1995 Memorandum of Understanding that brought the UK into the project.^[301] Level 2 partners are Italy, which is contributing US$1 billion; and the Netherlands, US$800 million. Level 3 partners are Turkey, US$195 million; Canada, US$160 million; Australia, US$144 million; Sony VPCM13M1E/L Battery

 Norway, US$122 million and Denmark, US$110 million. Israel and Singapore have joined as Security Cooperative Participants (SCP). Japan announced on 20 December 2011 its intent to purchase 42 F-35s with deliveries beginning in 2016 to replace F-4 Phantom II aircraft. The country wants at least 38 of the F-35s to be assembled in Japan. Sony VPCM13M1E/P Battery

By February 2012 many changes had occurred in the F-35 order book. Italy became the first country to announce it was reducing its overall fleet procurement, cutting its buy from 131 to 90 aircraft. Other nations reduced initial purchases or delayed orders, while still intending to purchase the same final numbers. Sony VPCM13M1E/W Battery

The United States canceled the initial purchase of 13 F-35s and postponed orders for another 179. Britain cut its initial order and delayed a decision on future orders. Australia decided to buy the Boeing Super Hornet as an interim measure until the F-35 is ready. Turkey also cut its initial order of four aircraft to two, but confirmed plans to purchase 100 F-35As.^[ Sony VAIO VGN-Z11MN/B Battery Sony VAIO VGN-Z11VN/X Battery

^] The Netherlands and Norway were considering their options and may cut or delay their orders. All of these changes in procurement resulted in increased prices for the aircraft and thus increased the likelihood of further procurement cuts.^[307][308] Sony VAIO VGN-Z11WN/B Battery

The Auditor General of Canada Michael Ferguson published a report on 3 April 2012 outlining problems with Canada's procurement of the jet, including misinformation about the final cost of the jet. According to comments Ferguson made 5 April, the government knowingly understated the final price for Canada's 65 jets by $10 billion, igniting heated debate over the purchase.^[309] Sony VAIO VGN-Z11XN/B Battery

Canada's Conservative government had previously been saying it would not reduce its order, claiming an anticipated $75–80 million unit cost per fighter, and budgeting for cost overruns of ~10%. By 6 April the Canadian procurement was being termed a "scandal" and "fiasco" by the media and now faces a full review to determine whether Canada will buy any F-35s. Sony VAIO VGN-Z15 Battery

Variants

The F-35 is being built in three different main versions to suit various combat missions. A fourth variant, the F-35I is an export version for Israel.

F-35A

The F-35A is the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant intended for the US Air Force and other air forces. Sony VAIO VGN-Z15N Battery

It is the smallest, lightest F-35 version and is the only variant equipped with an internal cannon, the GAU-22/A. This 25 mm cannon is a development of the GAU-12 carried by the USMC's AV-8B Harrier II. It is designed for increased effectiveness against ground targets compared to the 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannon carried by other USAF fighters. Sony VAIO VGN-Z17 Battery

The F-35A is expected to match the F-16 in maneuverability and instantaneous and sustained high-g performance, and outperform it in stealth, payload, range on internal fuel, avionics, operational effectiveness, supportability, and survivability.^[314]It is expected to match an F-16 that is carrying the usual external fuel tank in acceleration performance.^[315]Sony VAIO VGN-Z17N Battery

It also has an internal laser designator and infrared sensors, equivalent to the Sniper XR pod carried by the F-16, but built in to reduce radar cross section.

The A variant is primarily intended to replace the USAF's F-16 Fighting Falcon. It is also to replace the A-10 Thunderbolt II starting in 2028.^[316][317] Sony VAIO VGN-Z19 Battery

F-35I

Main article: Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Israeli procurement

F-35A with Israeli modifications. A senior Israel air force official stated "the aircraft will be designated F-35I, as there will be unique Israeli features installed in them". Sony VAIO VGN-Z19N Battery

The United States will not allow the integration of Israel's own electronic warfare systems into the aircraft’s built-in electronic suite. However, a plug-and-play feature added to the main computer will allow for the use of Israeli electronics in an add-on fashion. Sony VAIO VGN-Z21MN/B Battery

Israel will be able to fit its own external jamming pod and plans to install its own air-to-air missiles and guided bombs in the F-35’s internal weapon bays.^[318] In July 2011, it was reported that the U.S. had agreed to allow Israel to install their own electronic warfare systems and missiles in their F-35s in the future.^[319] Sony VAIO VGN-Z21VN/X Battery

Israel Aerospace Industries has considered playing a role in the development of a proposed two-seat F-35. An IAI executive stated, "There is a known demand for two seats not only from Israel but from other air forces. Advanced aircraft are usually two seats rather than single seats."^[320] Sony VAIO VGN-Z21WN/B Battery

IAI also plans to produce conformal fuel tanks to extend the range.^[321]

CF-35

The Canadian CF-35 will differ from the American F-35A through the addition of a drag chute and an F-35B/C style refueling probe.^[322][323] Norway may also use the drag chute option, as they also have icy runways.^[210][324] Sony VAIO VGN-Z21XN Battery

The alternative would be to adopt the F-35C for its probe refueling and lower landing speed, but the F-35C's reduced range (it carries more fuel than the other variants) and limited payload (the B-61 nuclear bomb is the only weapon exclusive to the F-35A over the F-35C) were judged too high a price to pay.^[325] Sony VAIO VGN-Z21ZN/X Battery

F-35B

The F-35B is the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the aircraft. Similar in size to the A variant, the B sacrifices about a third of the other version's fuel volume to make room for the vertical flight system. Sony VAIO VGN-Z25 Battery

Takeoffs and landing with vertical flight systems are by far the riskiest, and in the end, a decisive factor in design. Like the AV-8B Harrier II, the B’s guns will be carried in a ventral pod. Whereas the F-35A is stressed to 9 g, the F-35B is stressed to 7 g. The F-35B was unveiled at Lockheed Martin's Fort Worth plant on 18 December 2007,^[328] Sony VAIO VGN-Z25/B Battery

and the first test flight was on 11 June 2008.^[329]

Unlike the other variants, because it can land vertically the F-35B has no landing hook. The "STOVL/HOOK" button in the cockpit initiates conversion instead of dropping the hook.^[330] Sony VAIO VGN-Z25TN/B Battery

The F-35B sends jet thrust directly downwards during vertical takeoffs and landing and the nozzle is being redesigned to spread the output out in an oval rather than a small circle so as to limit damage to asphalt and ship decks.^[331] The variant's three-bearing swivel nozzle that directs the full thrust of the afterburning jet engine is moved by a “fueldraulic” actuator, using pressurized jet fuel.^[332] Sony VAIO VGN-Z26TN/B Battery

The United States Marine Corps plans to purchase 340 F-35Bs,^[82] to replace all current inventories of the F/A-18 Hornet (A, B, C and D-models), and AV-8B Harrier II in the fighter, and attack roles.^[333] The Marines are planning to use the F-35B from "unimproved surfaces at austere bases" and are preparing landing spots with "special, Sony VAIO VGN-Z27 Battery

high-temperature concrete designed to handle the heat from the JSF".^[334][335]

The Royal Air Force and Royal Navy plans to use the F-35B to replace their Harrier GR9s, which were retired in 2010. One of the Royal Navy requirements for the F-35B design was a Shipborne Sony VAIO VGN-Z27/B Battery

Rolling and Vertical Landing (SRVL) mode to increase the maximum landing weights for carried weapons via wing lift.^[336] This method of landing is slower than arrested landing and could disrupt regular carrier operations.^[337] In October 2010, the UK announced plans to order to the CATOBAR F-35C variant instead,^[338] Sony VAIO VGN-Z27TN/X Battery

but in May 2012 the UK reverted back to purchasing the F-35B, citing the cost of equipping the UK's new aircraft carriers for the F-35C.^[339][340]

The Italian Navy is preparing Grottaglie air station for future operations with the F-35B. The Italian Navy is to receive 22 aircraft between 2014 and 2021, with its Cavour aircraft carrier set to be modified to operate them by 2016.^[341] Sony VAIO VGN-Z29N Battery

Commandant of the Marine Corps, General James Amos has said that, in spite of its increasing costs and schedule delays, there is no plan B to substitute for the F-35B.^[342] The F-35B is larger than the aircraft it replaces, which required the USS America (LHA-6) to be designed without needed well deck capabilities.^[343] Sony VAIO VGN-Z29N/X Battery

In 2011, the USMC and USN signed an agreement that the USMC will purchase 340 F-35B and 80 F-35C while the USN will purchase 260 F-35C. The five squadrons of Marine Corps F-35Cs will be assigned to the Navy carriers while the Marine Corps F-35Bs will be used on Amphibious ships and ashore. Sony VAIO VGN-Z31MN/B Battery

On 6 January 2011, Gates said that the 2012 budget would call for a two year pause in F-35B production during which the aircraft may be redesigned, or canceled if unsuccessful. Gates stated, "If we cannot fix this variant during this time frame, and get it back on track in terms of performance, cost and schedule, then I believe it should be canceled." Sony VAIO VGN-Z31VN/X Battery

The probation was ended by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on 20 January 2012 because of progress made over the past year.^[350]

Lockheed Martin executive vice president Tom Burbage and former Pentagon director of operational testing  Tom Christie Sony VAIO VGN-Z31WN/B Battery

have said that most of the delays in the total program have been due to issues with the F-35B, which forced massive redesigns on the other versions.^[351]

The USMC intends to declare Initial Operational Capability with about 50 F-35s running interim Block 2B software in the 2014 to 2015 timeframe.^[352] Sony VAIO VGN-Z31ZN/X Battery

Lockheed Martin vice president Steve O’Bryan has said that most F-35B landings will be purely conventional in order to reduce stress on the vertical lift components.^[353] Conventional operations also reduce the risk of self-induced foreign object damage.^[354][355]

On 3 October 2011, the F-35B began its initial sea-trials by performing a vertical landing on the deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp.^[356] Sony VAIO VGN-Z35 Battery

The USAF will not be replacing the A-10 with the F-35B, because the F-35B will not be able to generate sufficient sorties.^[357]

F-35C

Compared to the F-35A, the F-35C carrier variant features larger wings with foldable wingtip sections, Sony VAIO VGN-Z35/B Battery

larger wing and tail control surfaces for improved low-speed control, stronger landing gear for the stresses of carrier arrested landings, a twin-wheel nose gear, and a stronger tailhook for use with carrier arrestor cables. The larger wing area allows for decreased landing speed while increasing both range and payload. Sony VAIO VGN-Z35TN/B Battery

With twice the range on internal fuel as the F/A-18C Hornet, the F-35C achieves much the same goal as the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

The United States Navy will use the F-35C carrier variant. It intends to buy 480 F-35Cs to replace the F/A-18A, B, C, and D Hornets. Sony VAIO VGN-Z36GD Battery

The F-35C will also serve as a low-observable complement to the Super Hornet.^[358] On 27 June 2007, the carrier variant completed its Air System Critical Design Review (CDR). This allows the first two functional prototype F-35C units to be produced.^[359] The C variant is expected to be available beginning in 2014.^[360] Sony VAIO VGN-Z36GD/B Battery

The first F-35C was rolled out on 29 July 2009.^[361] The United States Marine Corps will also purchase 80 F-35Cs, enough for five Marine fighter-attack squadrons, for use with Navy carrier air wings in a joint service agreement signed on 14 March 2011.^{[344][345][346]}

In October 2010, the United Kingdom decided to order the F-35C, which will be used by both the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy.^[362] Sony VAIO VGN-Z36GD/J Battery

The total number of F-35C aircraft to be procured will not be decided until the 2015 Strategic Defence Review.^[363] However, it will be fewer than the 138 originally ordered; reports have suggested a fleet of around 50.^[363] At least one of the Royal Navy's new Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers was to support non-STOVL operations; Sony VAIO VGN-Z36TD/B Battery

catapults and arrester cables were to be installed for F-35C operations.^[338][362] The carrier was to typically carry 12 F-35Cs with the ability to deploy up to 36.^[362][364] The UK Strategic Defence & Security Review found that the F-35C's greater endurance in the air meant that fewer aircraft would be needed and that the F-35C has a 25 percent lower lifetime cost than the F-35B.^[365] Sony VAIO VGN-Z36TD/J Battery

In May 2012, it was reported that the UK government had decided to return to buying the shorter-range F-35B model, on the grounds of the escalation in cost of adapting the Queen Elizabeth for the F-35C.^[366]

On 6 November 2010, the first F-35C arrived at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. Sony VAIO VGN-Z37D Battery

At the time, it was determined that the replacement engines for at-sea repair are too large to be transported by current underway replenishment systems.^[367] In 2011, the F-35Cs were grounded for six days because of a software error in the code that was intended to keep the wings from folding in mid-flight.^[368] Sony VAIO VGN-Z37D/B Battery

On 27 July 2011, the F-35C test aircraft CF-3 completed its first steam catapult launch during a test flight in Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst. The TC-13 Mod 2 test steam catapult, representative of current fleet technology, was used. In addition to the catapult launches at varying power levels, Sony VAIO VGN-Z37GD Battery

the integrated test team is to execute a test plan over three weeks to include dual-aircraft jet blast deflector testing and catapult launches using a degraded catapult configuration to measure the effects of steam ingestion on the aircraft.^[369]

On 13 August 2011, the F-35 integrated test force completed jet blast deflector (JBD) Sony VAIO VGN-Z37GD/X Battery

testing at the Lakehurst facility, with a round of two-aircraft testing. F-35C test aircraft CF-1 along with an F/A-18E tested a combined JBD cooling panel configuration to assess the integration of F-35s in aircraft carrier launch operations. “We completed all of our JBD test points efficiently,” said Andrew Maack, government chief test engineer. Sony VAIO VGN-Z39D Battery

 “It was a great collaborative effort by all parties.” The government and industry team completed tests that measured temperatures, pressures, sound levels, velocities, and other environmental data. The combined JBD model is to enable carrier deck crews to operate all air wing aircraft, now including the F-35C, as operational tempo requires. Sony VAIO VGN-Z39D/X Battery

Future carrier suitability testing is scheduled throughout 2011, including ongoing catapult testing and the start of arrestment testing in preparation for initial ship trials in 2013.^[370] On 18 Nov 2011, the US Navy used its new Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) to catapult an F-35C into the air for the first time. Sony VAIO VGN-Z41MD/B Battery,Sony VAIO VGN-Z41WD/B Battery,Sony VAIO VGN-Z45GD/B Battery