Yep, you heard right. F-35B's will be received by the USMC this year.
via DODBuzz.
First off, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program manager Vice Adm. David Venlet let everyone know that it looks like the Marines will indeed receive B-model JSFs before the years end, noting that there are about 30 of the short takeoff and vertical landing planes in production under the LRIP 2 and 3 batches. While this doesn’t mean the Marine’s IOC date will swing back to 2012, it is a glimmer of hope for the B model which has been placed on a two year probation. So, far this year, the Bravo has demolished its flight test goals and just last week it performed its first ever automated short takeoff, according to Venlet.
Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Terry Robling, the Marine Corps top aviation official made a rather sour prediction, saying the Pentagon should get ready for a ten year or “dual FYDP” budget crunch. This makes delivering aircraft on time and on budget all the more important lest they go away, said the three-star. This type environment adds to the importance of keeping legacy jets such as the F/A-18 Hornet in service until they are slowly replace by F-35s and the possibility that a sixth generation naval fighter may be a modified or upgraded variant of the F-35, added Robling.
File this under "News you won't see at Ares". ;-)
ReplyDeletei wonder if maybe when they get their fully equipped bravos in they should send one or two to an MEU, they can still be escorted by harriers where they can do CAS if the 35 has problems but send out one or two and see how its really going to do after some sea trials.
ReplyDeletenot a chance. the USMC will slow walk this baby so that the critics won't have ammo to use against it.
ReplyDeleteif you thought it took a while to get the V-22 to frontline service then check this one out. it'll get an early IOC but it'll be left stateside for a number of years.
You can't say that it would be used in combat for a number of years and then not like it when someone calls it a white elephant.
ReplyDeleteThis may not be apparent to you but "why" matters. Oh, and you forgot to say "software".
ReplyDeletejust curious Thomas.
ReplyDeletethere are plenty of sites that agree with you 100% why are you coming to mine when you know i disagree?
He seems to thrive on attention. At Ares and others he's just one of the droning masses.
ReplyDeleteWhile this is good news, and the recent test flights are encouraging, since this report doens't mean that the program is moving "ahead" of schedule, isn't this just a case of no bad news is good news?
ReplyDelete...and the possibility that a sixth generation naval fighter may be a modified or upgraded variant of the F-35, added Robling.
This made me puke a little in my mouth. Why does it need to get upgraded? I thought it could already outfight anything?
To be a high end Naval air superiority fighter it needs one more engine, bigger wings, and a larger weapons bay(s). That's not an upgrade, that's a new fighter.
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteFY2011 Budget Deal Cuts 2.16 Billion from F-35 Program
ReplyDeleteSource:
Bloomberg News
Relevant info:
F-35A - production increased from 22 to 25
F-35B - production cut from 13 to 3
F-35C - no change from 7 requested