F-35 Export

[Ayoshi]

Israeli F-35s to be declared operational in December | IHS Jane's 360 - 22 June 2017

The operational status will apply to the five F-35s already delivered to the IAF as well as all future jets on their arrival. Israel has ordered 50 jets to equip two full squadrons, with final deliveries expected in 2022.

[Ayoshi]

Japanese MoD denies claims it is considering equipping F-35 with ASMs | IHS Jane's 360 - 29 June 2017

The Tokyo-based Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reported on 27 June that the air-launched Joint Strike Missile (JSM) being developed by Norwegian company Kongsberg "is a promising candidate" for the Japanese F-35As.

Responding to a question on the matter, Japanese defence minister Tomomi Inada said during a press conference on the same day, "Although the media report mentioned a study on the possibility of equipping the F-35 with an air-to-surface missile, we are not conducting such a study.

[Ayoshi]

UK to decide on future F-35 variant 'at appropriate time' | IHS Jane's 360 - 13 July 2017

Answering questions in Parliament, the Minister of State for Defence and Deputy Leader of the House of Lords, Earl Howe, said that while the UK had committed itself to its full quota of 138 aircraft, it had yet to decide on which variant these would be beyond the initial 48 F-35Bs that will be used to fly off the country's two new aircraft carriers.

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Of the three JSF variants – the conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) F-35A, the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) F-35B, and the carrier variant (CV) F-35C – the STOVL F-35B that the UK requires to operate off its 'ski-jump'-equipped Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales carriers, and the F-35C that the US Navy will fly from its catapult-equipped carriers, are the most expensive to procure by about USD10 million per aircraft.

[Ayoshi]

Second Adir F-35I Squadron is on the horizon for Israeli Air Force | Air Recognition - 31 July 2017

After seven months of integration and preparation for IOC (Initial Operational Capability), the second “Adir” F-35I Squadron is on the horizon as its establishment team is expected to begin working next summer

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Integrating this aircraft is extremely complex. It is a long maturation process and it is fundamentally different to the way we integrated other aircraft such as the ‘Sufa’ (F-16I) ‘Baz’ (F-15I) or the F-4 Phantom”, explained Lt. Col. Yotam. “In contrast to them, in this case we are integrating an aircraft that is still being developed. Earlier generation aircraft had software updates, but in the ‘Adir’, basic systems are updates as well as software. The F-35’s development process is completely different from any other aircraft’s”.

F-35I Adir. Israeli Air Force picture by Celia Garion

[Ayoshi]

UK launches externally loaded F-35B from 'ski jump' for first time | IHS Jane's 360 - 13 August 2017

The test, which took place in early August, saw a short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) F-35B loaded with a UK-specific mix of four Raytheon Paveway IV precision-guided munitions and two MBDA Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (ASRAAMs) take off from a launch ramp of the type that will be fitted to the United Kingdom’s two new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers. As noted by BAE Systems in its Twitter announcement of the test, aircraft BF-02 was piloted by the company’s chief STOVL test pilot, Peter 'Wizzer' Wilson.

This test at Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River in Maryland is part of a wider campaign to validate for the F-35B the ‘ski-jump’ launch technique that was first developed by the United Kingdom to launch its Sea Harrier jets from the decks of through-deck cruise carriers in the late 1970s. This method enables the aircraft to take off with more fuel and/or weapons, and provides an extra safety margin compared with the US Marine Corps’ (USMC) system of launching from a flat deck. This is especially true during rough seas, when the ship will be pitching up and down.

An F-35B at the moment of launch from a 'ski-jump' test rig that has been set up at NAS Patuxent River. The aircraft is loaded out with a UK-specific mix of Paveway IV and ASRAAM weapons. Source: US Navy

[Ayoshi]

Israel orders additional F-35s | IHS Jane's 360 - 29 August 2017

Israel will purchase an additional 17 Lockheed Martin F-35A Joint Strike Fighters, the Israel Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced on 27 August.

The order was placed by the MoD’s procurement delegation to the United States after it had been approved by the Israeli cabinet.

The aircraft are scheduled to arrive by December 2024, at which point the Israeli Air Force will have a fleet of 50 F-35As – known as the F-35I Adir in Israeli service - divided into two squadrons.

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) should have the 33 aircraft that it has ordered under two previous transactions by 2021.

A photo released by the IAF on 20 August shows an F-35I Adir carrying out aerial refuelling with a Re'em tanker from the Desert Giants Squadron as part of the new type’s operationalisation programme. Source: Israeli Air Force

[Ayoshi]

DSEi 2017: Harris Corp. to fit UK F-35s with new carriage and release systems | Air Recognition - 18 September 2017

Harris Corporation has been awarded a development contract by MBDA to provide carriage and release systems to support the U.K.’s SPEAR precision strike missile future air combat capability requirements – including the U.K. F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.

The award was made in the first quarter of Harris’ fiscal 2018 and announced during Defence and Security Equipment (DSEI) 2017, Sept. 12-15, at the ExCeL in London.
The contract follows the successful completion of the concept assessment phase contract and provides an option for the upcoming demonstration phase contract.

Harris will provide four internal bay-compatible SCORPION Lightweight Ejection Rack Units (ERUs) for each of the two F-35 weapon bays. These lightweight ERUs are manufactured at the company’s Brighton, England, facility, and they deliver sophisticated and reliable ejection performance. The ERUs have a high degree of weapon-departure control that is essential to safe operations on hisgh performance air platforms.

An artist's rendering of MBDA SPEAR missile being released from the JSF weapon bay (Credit: MBDA)

[Ayoshi]

Japan aims to integrate locally produced parts into F-35s from 2018 | IHS Jane's 360 - 20 September 2017

A spokesperson from ATLA also confirmed that local component manufacturing was behind schedule and that it had failed to meet a deadline to manufacture parts for the aircraft that were ordered in 2013 and scheduled to be delivered later this year.

Under the programme, IHI Corporation is licence producing parts for the F-35’s Pratt & Whitney F135 engine while Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MELCO) is manufacturing components for the aircraft’s avionics systems designed by Northrop Grumman.

In addition, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) operates a Final Assembly and Check Out (FACO) facility but the company does not produce F-35 components.

[Ayoshi]

ADEX 2017: F-35 makes South Korean show debut | IHS Jane's 360 - 16 October 2017

The Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) made its debut appearance at this year’s Seoul International Aerospace and Defence Exhibition (ADEX), giving South Korea a sneak-preview of its future fighter while providing a timely warning to Pyongyang on US regional capabilities and resolve.

One of the two USAF F-35As that has made the journey from Hill AFB in Utah to Seoul for the type's ADEX debut. (IHS Markit / Gareth Jennings)

[Ayoshi]

From The Aviationist

First F-35B Assembled Internationally And Destined To The Italian Air Force Has Completed Its First Short Take Off And Vertical Landing - Oct 31 2017

On Oct. 30, the first Italian F-35B, the first assembled outside the US, carried out its first flight in short-take and vertical landing mode (STOVL) from Cameri airfield, home of the Final Assembly and Check Out (FACO) facility, in northwestern Italy.

According to an official LM release, during the flight, a Lockheed Martin test pilot performed perfectly all STOVL mode operations, including hovering on the runway, reaching another milestone for the F-35 program in Italy. The test pilots will perform other tests before the official BL-1 aircraft is delivered to the Italian Air Force: this is worth of note since a previous release stated that the first Italian F-35B would be taken on charge by the Italian Navy. Indeed, Italy plans to procure 90 F-35s, 60 F-35As for the Air Force and 30 F-35Bs for both the ItAF and Italian Navy. Therefore, the Italian Air Force will operate a fleet of CTOL (Conventional Take Off and Landing) and STOVL stealth jet with the latter considered to be pivotal to operate in expeditionary scenarios: a decision that has long been debated, with some analysts considering the STOVL variant unnecessary for the ItAF given that the the F-35 CTOL features a longer range and a reduced logistic footprint than the F-35B, especially in the TDY scenarios.

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Norway’s First Three F-35 Jets Have Just Landed At Orland Air Force Station - Nov 03 2017

On Nov. 3, at about 15.57 local time, the first three F-35A jets (AM-8, AM-9 and AM-10) destined to the RNoAF (Royal Norwegian Air Force) and delivered directly to Norway have landed at Ørland Air Force Station, in central Norway.

Norway plans to procure up to 52 F-35A, at an estimated cost of about NOK 70 billion (+7.3B USD), including weapons and support, to replace its fleet of ageing F-16s, that will be replaced in 2021. The first two aircraft were delivered in 2015 followed by another two in 2016 and three more ones earlier in 2017, but these aircraft were based at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, where they are used for Norwegian and partner country pilot training.

The first three RNoAF F-35s on the ground at Orland Air Force Station, Norway. (RNoAF)

[Ayoshi]

RNoAF's first three F-35A fighter jets landed at Ørland Air Base | Air Recognition - 05 November 2017

The Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) on Nov. 3 formally took delivery of its first three F-35A fighter jets. The three aircraft, the first to be delivered to Norway, took off from Fort Worth, Texas at 06.35 AM Norwegian time November 3rd and landed at 03.57 PM the same day at Ørland Air Base, the country's Ministry of Defence said on its website.

Seven more RNoAF F-35As are currently at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, where Norwegian pilots are in training. The Norwegian government has plans to purchase up to 52 F-35As. From 2018, Norway will receive six aircraft annually up until, and including, 2024.

Norway's first three F-35As being escorted by a RNAF F-16 fighter jet when entering the country's airspace (Credit: Heige Hopen/Norwegian Armed Forces)

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From Air Recognition - 06 November 2017

International operators start receiving F-35 Full Mission Simulators

Lockheed Martin recently delivered F-35 Full Mission Simulators (FMS) to the Israeli, Italian, Japanese and Norwegian Air Forces – the first-ever deliveries to international F-35 operators, the US-based defense giant announced on Nov. 6, 2017.

The simulators are critical components of the pilot training capability at F-35 operating bases in these four countries, where they will facilitate pilot qualification training, continuation training and mission rehearsal training.

A F-35 FMS (Credit: Lockheed Martin)

[Ayoshi]

Germany declares preference for F-35 to replace Tornado | IHS Jane's 360 - 08 November 2017

The German Air Force has a shortlist of existing platforms to replace its Panavia Tornados from 2025 to 2030, but the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is the service’s “preferred choice", a senior service official said on 8 November.

Speaking under the Chatham House Rule, the official said that the F-35 already fulfils most of the requirements that the Luftwaffe requires to replace its Tornados in the 2025 to 2030 timeframe, and that it offers a number of other benefits besides.

[Ayoshi]

Israeli Air Force Declares Adir F-35I Operational | Air Recognition - 06 December 2017

A new age in the IAF: merely a year after arriving in Israel, the “Adir” (F-35I) fighter was declared operational. The fifth generation fighter jet, manufactured by “Lockheed Martin” is considered one of the world’s most advanced fighter aircraft.

The IAF “Adir” (F-35I), which landed in Israel a year ago, was declared operational upon the completion of an initial operational capability inspection. Picture by Maj. Ofer
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F-35I Adir. Israeli Air Force picture by Celia Garion

[Ayoshi]

South Korea Moves Forward With Plans to Buy 20 More F-35 Stealth Fighter Jets | The Diplomat - December 22, 2017

The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) is moving forward with plans to procure 20 additional fifth-generation Lightning II F-35A stealth fighter jets — the aircraft’s conventional takeoff and landing variant — according to multiple South Korean government sources cited by the Joongang Ilbo newspaper, Reuters reports this week.

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has purportedly initiated the F-35A acquisition process. The news comes as no surprise to ROK military analysts. The South Korean government has been considering ordering additional F-35A fighter jets for a while to boost the ROKAFs precision strike capability against North Korean missile and command and control targets in the event of full-scale war on the Korean Peninsula.

[Ayoshi]

Japan, South Korea may refit naval ships for F-35 fighters | Defense news

Modification of the ships to operate the F-35B will enhance flexibility and expand the range of missions, with Yonhap quoting a source as saying that the South Korean military is looking at “maximizing the strategic value of the vessel’s capabilities.” The ships can carry several helicopters during normal operations, with the Izumo and Dokdo class designed to carry a maximum of 14 and 10 helicopters respectively.

Both ship classes will however need to be modified extensively internally and externally to operate the F-35B, including the application of a thermally protective coating on areas of the flight deck to withstand hot exhaust gases during F-35B vertical landings, and possibly even reshaping the flight deck to allow rolling takeoffs.

They will also need to have the ammunition magazines hardened and enlarged to accommodate the F-35B’s weapons, while aviation fuel storage facilities will also likely need to be expanded to account for higher fuel consumption compared to helicopters.

Reuters has suggested that a ski-jump may be fitted to the Izumo as part of any modification program for the F-35B, however with the Izumo-class being 248 meters long and the Dokdo 199 meters, both already have flight decks long enough for the F-35B to carry out rolling takeoffs — no ski-jump needed.

Japan has two Izumo-class helicopter destroyers in service, while South Korea has one Dokdo-class ship in service with another being built. The two countries are also operators of the F-35A conventional take off and landing version, with Japan and South Korea having 42 and 40 F-35As on order respectively.