F 35
Department of Defense contract competition which resulted in its selection, see Joint Strike Fighter Program. For the computer game portraying aircraft from the competition, see Joint Strike Fighter (game).
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a single-seat, single-engine, stealth-capable military strike fighter, a multi-role aircraft that can perform close air support, tactical bombing, and air superiority fighter missions.
The F-35 has three different models; one is the conventional takeoff and landing variant, the second is short takeoff and vertical-landing variant, and the third is a carrier-based variant.
The F-35 is descended from the X-35, the product of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. This was pursued by building three variants of one aircraft, sharing 80% of their parts:
F-35A, conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant.
F-35B, short-takeoff and vertical-landing (STOVL) variant.
F-35C, carrier-based (CV) variant.
The F-35 is being designed to be the world's premier strike aircraft through 2040.
It is intended that its close and long-range air-to-air capability will be second only to that of the F-22 Raptor. Specifically the F-35’s requirements are that it be: four times more effective than legacy fighters in air-to-air combat, eight times more effective in air-to-ground battle combat, and three times more effective in reconnaissance and suppression of air defenses. 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.
DoD officials and British Minister of Defence Procurement Lord Bach, said the X-35 consistently outperformed the X-32, although both met or exceeded requirements. The designation of the fighter as "F-35" came as a surprise to Lockheed, which had been referring to the aircraft in-house by the designation "F-24".
Naming
On 7 July 2006, the U.S.
English Electric Company's aircraft division was incorporated into BAC, a predecessor of F-35 partner BAE Systems. Other names previously listed as contenders were Kestrel, Phoenix, Piasa, Black Mamba and Spitfire II.
Lightning II was also an early company name for the aircraft that became the F-22 Raptor.
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. 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 planes is expected to cost an additional US$200 billion. The nine major partner nations plan to acquire over 3,100 F-35s through 2035, making the F-35 one of the most numerous jet fighters.
There are three levels of international participation. The levels generally reflect the financial stake in the program, 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, about 10% of the development costs under the 1995 Memorandum of Understanding that brought the UK into the project. Level 2 partners are Italy, which is contributing US$1 billion; and the Netherlands, US$800 million. Level 3 partners are Canada, US$440 million; Turkey, US$175 million; Australia, US$144 million; Norway, US$122 million and Denmark, US$110 million.
Israel and Singapore have joined as Security Cooperative Participants (SCP).
Some of the partner countries have wavered in their public commitment to the JSF program, hinting or warning that unless they receive more subcontracts or technology transfer, they will forsake JSF for the Eurofighter Typhoon, Saab Gripen, Dassault Rafale or simply upgrade their existing aircraft. Norway has several times threatened to put their support on hold unless substantial guarantees for an increased industrial share is provided.
commitment to grant access to the technology that would allow the UK to maintain and upgrade its F-35s without US involvement. This is understood to relate mainly to the software for the aircraft.
For five years, British officials sought an ITAR waiver to secure greater technology transfer. This request, which has the blessing of the Bush administration, was repeatedly blocked by U.S.
But if it does not take place we will not be able to purchase these aircraft," and he said there was a 'Plan B' if the deal fell through. This may have been the development of a navalized Typhoon.
On 27 May 2006, President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair announced that "Both governments agree that the UK will have the ability to successfully operate, upgrade, employ, and maintain the Joint Strike Fighter such that the UK retains operational sovereignty over the aircraft." Despite this, concerns were still expressed about the lack of technology transfer as late as December 2006.
Nevertheless, on 12 December 2006, Lord Drayson signed an agreement which met the UK's demands for further participation, i.e., access to software source code and operational sovereignty. The agreement allows "an unbroken British chain of command" for operation of the aircraft.
Department of Defense's Defense Security Service for failing to ensure that BAE Systems was exercising appropriate controls over access to sensitive technologies, while both BAE and Lockheed Martin denied that any technology had been compromised.
Italy
Italy plans to acquire a total of 131 F-35s where 74 are F-35As and 57 are F-35Bs.
Netherlands
The Netherlands has plans to acquire 85 F-35As and options on another 15 F-35A for the Royal Netherlands Air Force. The Dutch government expects the costs to be €5.5 billion for the initial purchase and €9.1 billion for 30 years of service. On 19 November 2007, in the Dutch Parliament, the Secretary of Defence was questioned about the JSF delay, technical problems and rising costs. However, on 29 February 2008, the executive council of the Dutch government decided to go ahead with the purchase of two test aircraft and a MOU was signed. September 7 2008 Dutch television show "reporter" reports that counter orders are lagging behind compared to promises and that an active lobby by the Netherlands Air force has manipulated Dutch government into participating in the project.
Canada
Canada has been involved in the Joint Strike Fighter Program from the very beginning, investing $10 million dollars US to be an "informed partner" during the evaluation process.
Once Lockheed Martin was selected as the primary contractor for the JSF program, Canada then elected to become a level 3 participant along with Norway, Denmark, Turkey, and Australia on the JSF project, paying US$100 million from the Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) to be paid over 10 years and an additional $50 million dollars from Industry Canada, in 2002 as a early participant of the JSF program.
Canada's rationale for joining the JSF project was not due to an urgent need to replace Canada's fleet of CF-18 Hornets; instead it was driven primarily by economics. Through Canadian government investment in the JSF project, Canadian companies were allowed to compete for contracts within the JSF project, as there were fears that being shut out from industrial participation in such a large program could severely damage the Canadian aviation industry. Joining also allowed Canada access to information regarding the F-35 as a possible contender when Canada eventually does plan to replace the CF-18 Hornet fleet. Improved interoperability with major allies, allowed the DND to gain insight on leading edge practices in composites, manufacturing and logistics, and the ability to recoup some investment if the government did decide to purchase the F-35.
As a result of Canadian government investment in the JSF project, 144 contracts were awarded to Canadian companies, universities and government facilities, for a combined contract value of US$490 million for the period 2002 to 2012, with an expected value of US$1.1 billion from current contracts in the period between 2013 and 2023, with a total potential estimated value of Canadian JSF involvement from US$4.8 billion to US$6.8 billion.
Turkey
On 12 July 2002, Turkey became the seventh international partner in the JSF Project, joining the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, Denmark and Norway.
The number of center fuselages to be produced by TAI will be determined depending on the number of F-35s Turkey will procure and the number of F-35s to be produced worldwide. The LOI represents a potential value in excess of $3 billion.
TAI of Turkey is one of the only two International Suppliers to Northrop Grumman Corporation (the other being Denmark).
The subassemblies – composite components and aircraft access doors – will be used in the F-35 center fuselage, a major section of the aircraft being produced by Northrop Grumman, a principal member of the Lockheed Martin-led F-35 global industry team.
In February 2007, Northrop Grumman also signed a letter of intent with TAI to also make it a second source for producing F-35 center fuselages. Northrop Grumman currently produces all F-35 center fuselages at its F-35 assembly facility in Palmdale, California.
It is also anticipated that TAI after 2013 will also produce 100% of the F-35 under license from Lockheed Martin Corporation, as was also the case with the F-16 Fighting Falcon program Peace Onyx I and II.
Turkey also intends to incorporate in the distant future several Turkish designed and manufactured electronic systems into the F-35 platform.
Australia
Australia's then-Minister for Defence Dr. Brendan Nelson signing the JSF Production, Sustainment and Follow-on Development Memorandum of Understanding in December 2006
In May 2005, the Australian government announced that it would delay its planned 2006 decision on buying the JSF to 2008, and thus past the term of the government of the day.
Analysis conducted by the Royal Australian Air Force has determined that the F-35 "is the most suitable aircraft for Australia's needs".
There has been debate in Australia over whether the F-35 is the most suitable aircraft for the RAAF. Some critics say the more expensive F-22 Raptor or the Eurofighter Typhoon may be better choices, both offering better range, dogfighting capability, and supercruise at a cost that may not be much more than the F-35 – claims that as of July 2006 are being examined in a parliamentary inquiry.
In a statement released in early August 2006, then-Australian Defence Minister Dr.
Northrop Grumman provides Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, center fuselage, weapons bay, and arrestor gear. On 15 September 2006 the first engine run of the F135 afterburning turbofan was conducted in an airframe, with the tests completed on 18 September after a static run with full afterburner.
The engine runs were the first time that the F-35 was completely functional on its own power systems. On 15 December 2006, the F-35A completed its maiden flight.
On 3 May 2007, an electrical problem consisting of electrical arcing inside a hydraulic control box forced the aircraft to make an emergency landing. It was grounded until 7 December, when test pilot Jon Beesley flew a 55-minute test flight.
A unique feature of the test program is the use of the so-called Lockheed CATBird avionic testbed, a highly modified Boeing 737-330, inside of which are racks holding all of F-35's avionics, as well as a complete F-35 cockpit.
On 31 January 2008 at Fort Worth, Texas, Lt Col James "Flipper" Kromberg of the U.S. It is the smallest, lightest F-35 version and is the only variant equipped with an internal cannon, the GAU-22/A.