DOD Faces Challenges in Sustaining a Growing Fleet
Tag: JSF
Raytheon’s F-35 precision landing system can be set up anywhere in less than 1.5 hours
September 16, 2019 – “The entire system was fully operational in 70 minutes on Day One and 50 minutes on Day Two,” said Matt Gilligan, vice president at Raytheon’s Intelligence, Information and Services business. “Raytheon is offering the U.S. and its allies fast and accurate precision landing systems that support operations from bare-base locations.” During the demonstration, military officials from all four services, as well as representatives from Japan, United Kingdom, The Netherlands, and Italy, watched multiple F-35Cs land on the same designated runway landing point every time over the…
Read MoreJapan Confirms F-35B Acquisition
August 16, 2019 (Google Translation) – Ministry of Defense is pleased to inform you that the Air Self-Defense Force’s short-range takeoff / vertical landing fighter has been decided today as follows. 1. Proposer and model: F-35B proposed by the US government 2. Reason for selection: The F-35B satisfied all the requirements for the Air Self-Defense Force’s short-range takeoff and vertical landing fighter. 3. History of model selection work: April 25, 2019 4. Hand over proposal request to requester: June 24 Receive a proposal from the proposer (US government proposal F-35B…
Read MoreLife Saving Anti-Collision Software Integrated into First F-35s Seven Years Ahead of Schedule
July 24, 2019 – The F-35 Joint Program Office, U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin have started integrating the Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto-GCAS) on to Air Force F-35As in the fleet. Leveraging a rapid, agile development, test and contracting approach, the joint government and industry team successfully fielded the life-saving technology seven years earlier than previously planned. “This is a great day for the warfighter as the Auto-GCAS is a proven system that is long overdue,” said Lt. Gen. Eric Fick, F-35 Program Executive Officer. “Expediting this life-saving…
Read MorePax River F-35 ITF Leaves HMS Queen Elizabeth After “Eclipsing aspirations”
November 30, 2018 – F-35 Lightning jets from the Pax River Integrated Test Force (ITF) left HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08), Nov. 19, 2018, after eight weeks flying on and off the 65,000-tonne warship, helping to write the ‘operator’s manual’ so the jets can fly from her deck on front-line operations. The success of the Westlant 18 deployment – which has also included a visit to New York – allows the Portsmouth, UK-based ship to move on to operational trials next year. Two F-35B test jets, four test pilots and nearly…
Read MoreRaytheon’s Ship Self-Defense System First Link from Surface Ship to JSF
October 30, 2018 – For the first time ever, Raytheon Company’s Ship Self Defense System established a digital air connection between a sea-based U.S. Navy ship and an airborne U.S. Marine Corps Joint Strike Fighter F-35B aircraft. The demonstrations proved the combat system’s ability to share digital tactical data from a JSF across a deployed Expeditionary Strike Group. This capability, also referred to as Link 16 Digital Air Control, or DAC, provides tactical, wireless integration between surface ships and aircraft, enhancing mission effectiveness through expanded situational awareness and interoperability. Shared data…
Read MoreLockheed Martin Selects Harris Corp to Deliver F-35’s Next Generation Computer Processor
September 27, 2018 – Lockheed Martin has selected Harris Corporation to develop and deliver the next generation Integrated Core Processor (ICP) for the F-35 fighter jet. The Lockheed Martin-led competition within the F-35 supply chain will significantly reduce cost and enhance capability. The F-35’s ICP acts as the brains of the F-35, processing data for the aircraft’s communications, sensors, electronic warfare, guidance and control, cockpit and helmet displays. “We are aggressively pursuing cost reduction across the F-35 enterprise and, after conducting a thorough review and robust competition, we’re confident the next generation Integrated…
Read MoreBritish-armed F-35B Lightning jet takes to the skies
Britain’s new stealth fighter jet, the F-35B Lightning, has carried out its first trials armed with UK-built weapons, showcasing the major role that the UK plays in the supersonic aircraft and bringing it a step closer to operations on the frontline. Defence Minister Stuart Andrew revealed that a British F-35 Lightning jet reached the landmark milestone whilst he was on a visit to the Defence Electronics and Components Agency (DECA) in Wales. The Welsh site is set to become a global repair hub for the cutting-edge aircraft, providing crucial maintenance,…
Read MorePentagon and Lockheed Martin Deliver 300th F-35 Aircraft
The F-35 Joint Program Office and Lockheed Martin delivered the 300th production F-35 aircraft, demonstrating the program’s continued progress and momentum. The 300th aircraft is a U.S. Air Force F-35A, to be delivered to Hill Air Force Base, Utah. “The F-35 weapons system is a key enabler of our National Defense Strategy and is providing our warfighters the combat proven, advanced capabilities they need to meet mission requirements,” said Vice Admiral Mat Winter, program executive officer for the F-35 Joint Program Office. “The 300th production aircraft delivery is a significant…
Read MoreKONGSBERG receives order for deliveries to F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS (KONGSBERG) today received an order from Lockheed Martin valued at 525 MNOK for deliveries of more than 150 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. The order consists of deliveries of aircraft structural parts in the form of Rudders and Vertical Leading Edges for the LRIP 11 production Lot and represents a continuation of previous orders for F-35, where Kongsberg has delivered parts since the LRIP 3 production Lot. “This order demonstrates KONGSBERG’s continued competitiveness of high end manufacturing for the F-35 program. We are also pleased…
Read MoreBAE Systems Receives Contract to Sustain F-35 Electronic Warfare Systems
BAE Systems has received a contract from Lockheed Martin to ensure the readiness of critical electronic warfare (EW) systems on the F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft. Under the five-year contract, BAE Systems will manage the supply chain and establish the infrastructure necessary to make sure the systems are mission capable and available to warfighters. “We’ll ensure that the F-35 EW supply chain is in place for Lockheed Martin and the Department of Defense.” “As a leader in EW systems for the world’s most advanced aircraft, we understand how critical readiness…
Read MoreLockheed Martin Opens New Facility to Support F-35 Production Growth
Elected officials and business community leaders joined Lockheed Martin April 30th in the formal opening of a new manufacturing facility that will create more than 80 new jobs by mid-2019. These new jobs are in addition to the 30 Lockheed Martin jobs added late last year to support the increasing F-35 production rate. The facility is expected to be operational by mid-May. “Keeping America safe and growing Florida’s economy are intertwined,” said U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist. “The Lockheed Martin Pinellas facility exemplifies that dynamic, a center of excellence for manufacturing…
Read MoreHarris Delivers Millionth F-35 Lightning II Avionics Component
Harris Corporation has delivered more than one million avionics components to Lockheed Martin for the F-35 Lightning II, while significantly cutting costs and maintaining a near perfect on-time delivery record supporting the world’s most advanced multi-role fighter aircraft. Harris today hosted VIPs and a traveling F-35 cockpit simulator as part of an event to recognize excellence in manufacturing quality and supply chain management. The F-35 program represents nearly 400 jobs and hundreds of millions in revenue for Harris each year in addition to hundreds of other suppliers throughout Florida and…
Read MoreDevelopmental testing completed on Small Diameter Bomb II
Raytheon Company has completed developmental testing on the Small Diameter Bomb II, a key step toward bringing this new capability to fighter pilots. Government confidence testing, a prerequisite for operational testing, is scheduled to be completed this year. Raytheon has also begun work on the SDB II™ second production lot after completing delivery of Lot 1 in 2017. The weapon gives pilots the ability to destroy moving targets on the battlefield. Its seeker detects, classifies, tracks and destroys targets, even in adverse weather conditions from standoff ranges. “We call SDB…
Read MoreF-35 gets precision target engagement with Raytheon JSOW missile
Raytheon Company and the U.S. Navy completed the final developmental test to integrate the Joint Standoff Weapon C onto the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter’s C variant, keeping the low-cost, air-to-ground missile on track for full deployment in 2019. The JSOW glide weapon uses a GPS-inertial navigation system with an imaging infrared seeker that can identify and track targets autonomously. JSOW C weighs 1,000 pounds and is effective against high-value land targets at ranges greater than 70 nautical miles, day or night, and in adverse weather conditions. “With JSOW C in…
Read More