“All these elements are known and will be solved.” Once again, the JPO (Joint Programe Office) of the F-35 program, thus repeats the periodic evaluations of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT & amp; E) of the Pentagon, Gilmore, who made headlines mainly because it came a few days after the declaration initial operational capability (IOC) of the F-35A, the conventional version of the hunting by American Air Force and follows approximately one year (July 2015) the IOC of short takeoff and vertical landing.
According to the annual report, posted among others, to the Secretary of the USAF, Deborah Lee James and Frank Kendall, head of acquisitions at the Pentagon, the head of the Defense Department for operational tests, the fighter still has shortages of 15 elements of 3F software, with which has just been conducted a flight test campaign, concerning release and separation of various missiles and ammunition.
“the significant deficiencies found during the tests carried in 2015 requiring precise changes. In all three versions of the F-35 – continues Gilmore -, rules must be observed, otherwise an inaccurate operation “of the aircraft. “The full operational capability of the Joint Strike Fighter – it says – is at risk”, while according to the recent statements made by General Bogdan, head of the JPO, it “will be reached within the next two years”, ie in time for the large-scale production of the fighter Lockheed Martin, expected around 2019.
in particular, the DOT & amp; E fears, doing their job, that the F-35 is not able to complete the flight test on time and according to the estimated costs. “The tests continue to make progress, but not at the pace hoped – it detects – and more complex features about the software have added problems.” “The JPO – said Bogdan – has worked and is working on all the recommendations (in the report, ed). Although close to completion, the F-35 is still in development and the technical challenges are to be put into account. The program has already demonstrated the ability to deal with the technological issues that arise and we are confident to continue to do that. “
As evidence of progress, he cites the use of the F-35 on several occasions and realistic training, including sending a USAF F-35A on the basis of Mountain Home and assessment of the operational readiness of the IOC made Nellis; the deployment of an F-35B at the Red Flag; the test Noise campaign performed in the Netherlands, the arrival in the UK and the combat exercise done by the Marine Corp in Yuma. “The results of all this – explains the general Bogdan – were positive and the hunt is proving to be a formidable weapon system, capable of providing not only better performance than legacy fighters, but also to make the generation aircraft previous more capable in combat, thanks to the sensor fusion and attack capabilities, and electronic self-defense. “
Totally agree with the JPO, even the US Air Force, which carefully studied the latest report of the DOT & amp; IS. “It ‘s important to emphasize that the aircraft is still in a development phase, where it is quite normal to find out and solve technical problems.” “In any case – says the USAF – from our perspective of users, we noted progress on the occasion of the certification of
Process Meanwhile, the first F-35A of the Japan Air Self Defense Force ( JASDF) has made its first flight yesterday in Fort Worth, where the first production line of the JSF. The aircraft, designated AX-1, took off at 11:12 and landed at 12:46 local time. The flight was piloted by test pilot for the F-35 of Lockheed Martin, Paul Hattendorf. Japan plans to acquire 42 F-35A in the Foreign Military Sales system. The first 4 are in Texas for the assembly and delivery is expected by year-end. The remaining 38 will be assembled at the FACO Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Nagoya, where they are already assembling some aircraft. Preparation for maintenance for the first team of Japanese experts has already begun at Eglin in Florida, and the training of the first pilots of the JASDF F-35 will begin on the basis of Luke in Arizona – where the first Italian military pilot has obtained the qualification of Instructor Pilot (IP) – in November 2016.
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