Nice looking airplane.
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.
VTOL or STOL?
Either way, sweet.
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?
Last fighters with pilots on board, is my speculation. Even those might be outfitted for such flights eventually.
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.
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....
“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.
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.
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.
Nice looking airplane.
The AF wants to fly multi-zillion $$$ F-35s into A-10 environments?
Reminds me of Robocop. No idea why...
So...how about a navalized YF-23. I realize it'll never happen, but all that great tech is just wasting away in a desert boneyard. And, it's been done before with a Northrup design:
Northrup YF-17 => McDonnell Douglas F/A-18
And now:
Northrup YF-23 => Lockheed(??) F-23 An idea whose time has come!
Otherwise, the Navy is going to have to depend on the USAF for air superiority. Out numbered and possibly outclassed depending on who they have to deal with.
There isn't one - (my mistake for not being clear enough in my words). They should have gone with a USN version of the F-22 was my point....Instead of looking to the F-35 multi-role.....Which won't have the legs (with any load-outs) to stay around in the fight....
The USN has really never replaced the F-14 (hell the F-14 bobcat version...was still the USN fast mover of choice for guys on the ground up until the day it was retired).
Simply put the F-35 role in replacing F-16s (and originally the A-10s as well...One of their main jobs is CAS. Close air support). Well the notion of "stealth" is meaningless to a large degree when providing CAS and when those on the ground need your as$ staying around in clear view to the badguys.
Bingo! Step to the front of the line. A number of USN aviators I know all say the YF-23 was the plane we should have gone with (there were small whispers a while back that it might be rejuvenated).
The notion of having the USAF providing air superiority for U.S. carriers is disastrous (and Congress is doing so for $$$ reasons on the cheap). It is crazy.
The USN needs either a YF-23 program or a USN F-22 version.
“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.
Okay, understood.
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."
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