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Navy version of F-35 clear for production
UPI ^ | 06/28/07

Posted on 06/28/2007 5:04:11 PM PDT by nypokerface

FORT WORTH, Texas, June 28 (UPI) -- All three versions of the U.S. Joint Strike Fighter have now cleared the final milestone needed before entering the production phase.

The carrier version of the cutting-edge F-35 recently passed its Air System Critical Design Review, putting it on track for Low Rate Initial Production.

The conventional and short-takeoff, vertical landing variants of the plane passed the CDR earlier and have been approved for LRIP.

"The die is now fully cast for the unique, three-variant Joint Strike Fighter program envisioned when the planning began in the late 1990s," said Air Force Brig. Gen. C.R. Davis, the JSF Program Executive Officer.

Lockheed Martin said in a statement Thursday that the naval variant, designated the F-35C, had an extra 200 pounds shaved off its design prior to the CDR.

The F-35C will be the Navy's first stealthy plane and will eventually replace the F/A-18 Hornet and fly alongside the newer F/A-18E/F Super Hornet as the main combat assets of U.S. naval aviation. The F-35A is the conventional version for the Air Force and will supplant the F-16 and A-10 attack planes beginning in 2010 while the F-35B will replace the Harrier jets flown by the U.S. Marines and the British military.

Lockheed is also eyeing major foreign markets for the JSF.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: aerospace; ctol; f35; navair; usaf; usmc; usn
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1 posted on 06/28/2007 5:04:11 PM PDT by nypokerface
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To: nypokerface

VTOL or STOL?

Either way, sweet.


2 posted on 06/28/2007 5:06:39 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
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To: nypokerface

This thing combined with the new Osprey will make allow our marine Corp to go farther, faster, and with a lot more reliable than the current Harrier and UH5?3?


3 posted on 06/28/2007 5:07:55 PM PDT by ChadGore (VISUALIZE 62,041,268 Bush fans. We Vote.)
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To: nypokerface

Last fighters with pilots on board, is my speculation. Even those might be outfitted for such flights eventually.


4 posted on 06/28/2007 5:09:04 PM PDT by SteveMcKing
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To: Jet Jaguar
VTOL or STOL?

Both.

There's a a fan mounted 90 degrees off the front of the engine , behind the pilot, that draws cool air from above and blows it direct out the bottom.

Way cool.

5 posted on 06/28/2007 5:10:23 PM PDT by ChadGore (VISUALIZE 62,041,268 Bush fans. We Vote.)
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To: Jet Jaguar
The F-35 is not the answer for the USN (but it sadly appears to be what they're getting).

The F-35 is hardly even a good replacement for the USAF 16's for that matter (and certainly not for the A-10s...thankfully that has been stopped for now).

The USN would be much better off staying with the F-18F versions and going with USN version of the F-22 for their interceptor role....

6 posted on 06/28/2007 5:13:30 PM PDT by SevenMinusOne
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To: SteveMcKing

“Last fighters with pilots on board’

You reminded me of my ex-BIL, when he graduated from the AF Academy. His was the last class without female members. They were going to have LCWB cast on their graduation rings — last class with balls — until someone at the academy noticed and scotched the plan.


7 posted on 06/28/2007 5:16:40 PM PDT by gcruse
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To: DevSix

I know it will replace the Viper.

Why the bad press by you?

Also, I did not know about a Navy version of the F-22

Elaborate please. That is interesting.


8 posted on 06/28/2007 5:20:11 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
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To: gcruse

I read about that - “LCWB” was promoted as “Loyalty, Courage, Wisdom, and Bravery”, but everyone knew the real story.

The rings may not have made it, but caps and t-shirts were made and are still seen occasionally.


9 posted on 06/28/2007 5:21:47 PM PDT by SteveMcKing
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To: nypokerface

Nice looking airplane.

10 posted on 06/28/2007 5:24:34 PM PDT by andy58-in-nh
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To: nypokerface

11 posted on 06/28/2007 5:25:10 PM PDT by theDentist (Qwerty ergo typo : I type, therefore I misspelll.)
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To: nypokerface
The F-35A is the conventional version for the Air Force and will supplant the F-16 and A-10 attack planes

The AF wants to fly multi-zillion $$$ F-35s into A-10 environments?

12 posted on 06/28/2007 5:26:01 PM PDT by glorgau
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To: andy58-in-nh

Reminds me of Robocop. No idea why...


13 posted on 06/28/2007 5:26:12 PM PDT by theDentist (Qwerty ergo typo : I type, therefore I misspelll.)
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To: DevSix
We'll see if the F-35 can live up to the hype. The Navy needs lots of tankers to keep their aircraft flying, the F-35 isn't going to change that.

So...how about a navalized YF-23. I realize it'll never happen, but all that great tech is just wasting away in a desert boneyard. And, it's been done before with a Northrup design:

Northrup YF-17 => McDonnell Douglas F/A-18

And now:

Northrup YF-23 => Lockheed(??) F-23 An idea whose time has come!

Otherwise, the Navy is going to have to depend on the USAF for air superiority. Out numbered and possibly outclassed depending on who they have to deal with.

14 posted on 06/28/2007 5:28:02 PM PDT by GBA (God Bless America!)
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To: Jet Jaguar
Also, I did not know about a Navy version of the F-22

There isn't one - (my mistake for not being clear enough in my words). They should have gone with a USN version of the F-22 was my point....Instead of looking to the F-35 multi-role.....Which won't have the legs (with any load-outs) to stay around in the fight....

The USN has really never replaced the F-14 (hell the F-14 bobcat version...was still the USN fast mover of choice for guys on the ground up until the day it was retired).

Simply put the F-35 role in replacing F-16s (and originally the A-10s as well...One of their main jobs is CAS. Close air support). Well the notion of "stealth" is meaningless to a large degree when providing CAS and when those on the ground need your as$ staying around in clear view to the badguys.

15 posted on 06/28/2007 5:28:31 PM PDT by SevenMinusOne
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To: GBA
So...how about a navalized YF-23. I realize it'll never happen, but all that great tech is just wasting away in a desert boneyard. And, it's been done before with a Northrup design:

Bingo! Step to the front of the line. A number of USN aviators I know all say the YF-23 was the plane we should have gone with (there were small whispers a while back that it might be rejuvenated).

The notion of having the USAF providing air superiority for U.S. carriers is disastrous (and Congress is doing so for $$$ reasons on the cheap). It is crazy.

The USN needs either a YF-23 program or a USN F-22 version.

16 posted on 06/28/2007 5:31:26 PM PDT by SevenMinusOne
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To: Jet Jaguar
The Navy doesn’t have a version of the F-22.
17 posted on 06/28/2007 5:32:17 PM PDT by GeorgefromGeorgia
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To: glorgau

“The AF wants to fly multi-zillion $$$ F-35s into A-10 environments?”

No. Since the military realizes that the A-10 would be toast at low altitude against a first tier opponent today, the anti-armor role will now be done from high altitude (helos fill the low-altitude role nicely anyhow). I hope improved sensors and communications will make up for the longer ranges.


18 posted on 06/28/2007 5:33:39 PM PDT by PreciousLiberty
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To: DevSix

Okay, understood.


19 posted on 06/28/2007 5:36:19 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
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To: PreciousLiberty
helos fill the low-altitude role nicely anyhow

As badly as the massed Apache attack got shot up in GWII by fairly unsophisticated air defenses in Iraq, and the continuing obvious enormous vulnerability of all helicopters in actual combat from Vietnam through today, I'm not sure all such roles are being filled "nicely."

20 posted on 06/28/2007 5:37:21 PM PDT by Strategerist
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