I've read (can't remember where) that the F-35 owes much to the Russian YAK-41.
I don't know if that's true and I'll leave that to people like Eric Palmer, Bill Sweetman and other to figure out. What I do know is that this small passage from Wikipedia is beyond interesting....
Following the announcement by the CIS that it could no longer fund development of the Yak-41M, Yakovlev immediately entered into discussions with several foreign partners who could help fund the program (a tactic they were also pursuing for development of the Yak-130 trainer, which was eventually developed in partnership with Aermacchi of Italy). Lockheed Martin, which was in the process of developing the X-35 for the US Joint Strike Fighter program, quickly stepped forward, and with their assistance 48-2 was displayed at the Farnborough Airshow in September 1992. Yakovlev announced that they had reached an agreement with Lockheed-Martin for funds of $385 to $400 million for three new prototypes and an additional static test aircraft to test improvements in design and avionics. Planned modifications for the proposed Yak-41M included an increase in STOL weight to 21,500 kg (47,400 lb). One of the prototypes would have been a dual-control trainer. Though no longer flyable, both 48-2 and 48-3 were exhibited at the 1993 Moscow airshow. The partnership began in late 1991, though it was not publicly revealed by Yakovlev until 6 September 1992, and was not revealed by Lockheed-Martin until June 1994.[1]How much the Russians contributed to the F-35 is unknown. I'd love to find out though.
But how about this for a what if.
If the F-35 was cancelled, which way would the Marine Corps go? A stripped down version without stealth? A re-winged AV-8B Harrier with a more powerful Pegasus engine?
Or would they stand pat and wait for a 6th gen to come out.
These aren't crazy questions anymore. Sequestration. A defense review this year, and another next. Its obvious that the defense budget is about to get ravaged. And we still need to get our Armored house in order. How do you accomplish all that with decreasing funds?
There are LM patents on a Three-Bearing Nozzle (TBN) that predate the Yak-141.
ReplyDeleteLM went to Russian to get info on what happened when you used one operationally. What they found out is classified but likely did not include much as the "partnership" did not last long and consisted mostly of LM paying for the Yak to go the Paris Airshow.
Not Paris... I shouldn't post while sick ;)
DeleteTo comment on your last question Sol I think the odds of the F-35 being cancelled are so low it's not worth worrying about. The USAF and USMC have so bet the entire tactical aviation farm on the F-35 if it's even remotely affordable there's no alternative.
ReplyDeleteThat said if the F-35 was killed the Corps would end up buying the F/A-18E/F just like the USN has continued to do till now. Exactly what would be done with the AV-8B is a good question. They'd need a SLEP but whether that would include a new wing or not isn't clear to me. Marine aviation would survive relatively fine, it's the USAF that would end up entirely screwed with an F-35 cancellation.
I dont think that the USAF would be in a world of hurt if the F-35 is cancelled...They can buy F-15s and F-16s...
ReplyDeleteIt would also free up money for the next generation bomber.
Its the USMC that get hit the worst:no other S/VTOL aircraft is in production and the America class would be without fixed wing aircraft to deploy.Unless this ships are modiffied with a Ski-jump ramp there is no way a SH can opperate from them...
ReplyDeletePaul M. Bevilaqua, giving the 2009 Wright Brothers Lectureship in Aeronautics titled "
Inventing the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter" at the 47th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting Including The New Horizons Forum and Aerospace Exposition AIAA 5 - 8 January 2009,in Orlando, Florida
"...In May 1995 Lockheed Martin gave the Yak Aircraft Corporation a contract to provide an independent assessment of our STOVL propulsion system and airframe concepts, and also to provide lessons learned from their VSTOL aircraft development programs. We provided them with copies of everything regarding the competing CALF concepts that had been published in the open literature, including a copy of the US patent on the Lockheed dual cycle propulsion system. Drawing on their own experience developing VSTOL aircraft, Yak engineers provided us with predictions of the STOVL performance, including ground effects, of all three competing aircraft concepts. They also provided a risk assessment of each concept. In addition, they provided useful design and performance information for the lift systems of the Yak VSTOL aircraft. Their Final Report was very complimentary of our design and gave us confidence that we had the right concept...."
Now you know (best Paul Harvey voice)... the REST of the story. [;-)
now that is an awesome post! throwing in Paul Harvey (one of my all time favorites was a nice touch too!)
Deletebut now that your bathroom is finished how about gracing us with your no non-sense appraisals of what would be the outcome of a (probably not going to happen---won't happen but a nice what if) decision to cancel the F-35. i hope you'll take up the challenge and post it on your blog.
Heh. Sorry, that is a hypothetical I am not willing to touch with a ten foot pole. About all I'm willing to say is it would cause more chaos and possibly collapse of the acquisition system, ensure the US would lose it's technological edge in aeronautics, place our forces at a disadvantage in the very near future, and make the anti-American morons jump for joy over the imminent American decline. Not very attractive.
Delete