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.
I all in favor of keeping the A-10 around.
It can do things no other can.
I am.
Marine Corps
UH5?3?(sic)
CH-53
I’m not so sure the A-10 would be “toast” as you say. However, I would very much like to see what could be built on a clean sheet of paper with the lessons learned from the A-10. Otherwise, the A-10 is a flying tank that has great loiter time, firepower and survivability for its pilot and itself. Still...I bet we could do even better! A faster A-10?
An airplane that doesn't exist.
the F-14 bobcat(sic) version
Bombcat
Both the Harrier and the Hornet will be replaced by the F-35B and down the road possibly the Prowler as well in the MAWs.
Are you as sold on the F-35 as the military seems to be?
You DO realize that this statement is utterly contradictory-?
If an A-10 won't make it, there isn't a helo made or proposed that could do better.
They are kick ass.
They cost a lot to maintain now. And, they have a survivability issue to contend with in future war scenarios.
I am unsure the F-35 can fulfill the roll, but, we have other options. The F-35 can help to fulfill the roll with the assistance of other airframes.
The problem with that particular Apache strike was that it was not coordinated with armor/mech. In short they sent the helos in deep and, as you said, they got chewed up. Entirely predictable.
An A-10 stealthized would be smart..
I think they should make more A-10’s to try to cut the time and money to maintain them.
I don’t believe there will every be any aircraft that can do every possible mission. That is why I think the US arsenal needs to have many different airframes.
New CUAV’s are amazing.
I think that is what the Brass is leaning toward.
UCAV
What is a UCAV?
The F-35 is V/STOL (Veritcal/Short take off and landing). The Naval version is conventional carrier.
Your argument against F-35 is that it cant do CAS like the A-10????
The Marine CAS aircraft today is the F-18 and it does quite well. An F-35 is a stealthy F-18 on steroids. You dont think thats a good thing?
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