The F-35B’s “combat capability” at IOC may end up being flatly untrue, and its best realistic case might be as a mere paper tiger. Korean-War vintage F-9 Cougar jets would be “combat capable,” too, in the sense that they could take off, land, and fire weapons. That isn’t an adequate standard for entrusting them with the safety of an MEU in 2016.This will be the first test of Dunford ... well one of the first tests for him as Commandant. I've been reviewing the presentation given to industry during the last Modern Day Marine (MDM) and it appears that
Defense Industry Daily
In essence
The push for a 2015 IOC seems to be designed to benefit the F-35 program and not to meet the needs of the Marine Corps.
The question. Will Dunford outright delay the F-35 until its finished flight testing or will he go forward and place aircraft into service that cannot provide the same support as the AV-8B? At risk? Marine lives. This one move will be telling. Either he is a man of morals and will "take care of his Marines" or he's a bought and paid for political hack in the mold of Amos.
I'll be watching this carefully.
The plan for the F-35B has ALWAYS been, since the inception of the program, to have IOC at Block2. Production F-35Bs (read VMFA-121) will not declare IOC at Block 2B until it's certified.
ReplyDeleteSo the question is (in the context of Block2B) what determines if the F-35 has "finished flight testing"?
thats simple. NavAir determines when flight testing is complete. the issue IS despite you trying to twist things is that the previous Commandant had decided that the F-35 would enter IOC BEFORE flight testing had been completed.
DeleteSo will the USMC F-35B join the air strike against ISIS next year, when even the F-22 is being used as bomb trucks?
DeleteAlmost every USMC combat vehicle USMC has, needs to be replaced. Hopefully with something very salty-friendly. I can't understand how that is not a priority.
ReplyDeleteIt is a priority. The problem is that we cannot figure out how to square the circle of making everything work together in a cohesive doctrine.
DeleteDoctrine ambiguity is 80% of the entire US military's procurement problem right now.
DeleteF-35 System Development and Demonstration (SDD), including developmental and operational testing, is scheduled to end in 2019. With the current extensive delay in testing coupled with other problems with software etc. this will slide to the right, no question.
ReplyDeleteThe MC requirements for initial operational capability (IOC), which are many, include: F-35B aircraft with the requisite performance envelope, mission systems, sensors, and weapon clearances;...
That won't occur until test and evaluation is completed successfully, 2019 (or later). The chief tester, Dr. Gilmore, recently stated that the aircraft's mission systems have yet to be tested in the F-35. The term “mission systems” refers to the avionics, integrated electronic sensors, displays and communications systems that collect and share data with the pilot and other friendly aircraft, at sea, in the air and on the ground. Yet_to_be_tested.
So the 2015 IOC date is totally bogus. Deploying F-35B before SDD completion is irresponsible to the Marines who would get stuck with this flying sausage that would be dangerous to operate, even if they redesign the engine which they don't seem inclined to do.
forgive me Don, but fuck the pilots. if they climb into an airplane that they know is unsafe then they've made their choice. the grunts calling in air support beyond the range of artillery though are depending on the Commandant not having left them out to dry with an insufficient airplane, incapable of doing the job.
DeleteOh come on, pilots are Marines too. :-)
DeleteWell, sort of. Most of them.
Hi Spud. Remember that what defined Block 2 in its "inception" was a whole lot different than today. http://elpdefensenews.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/f-35-blocks-yesterday-and-today.html
ReplyDeleteyou know the deal on this Eric. the F-35 is a shifting target of lowered expectations.
DeleteThe MC has been buying six useless F-35 prototypes annually for $1.4B, or $233 million each.
ReplyDeleteyeah and you want the kick in the head? we could have bought the entire planned production of the EFV and completed the buy with that amount of money...and had them in the fleet.
DeleteThey Should replace their Hornets by Growlers. That way their current Harriers could operate safely doing cas or air strikes as they did in Libia with the Navy Growlers. Those Growlers in sufficient number could even detect and Jam Stealth fighter coming. If one day the F-35 become effective, they could replace the Harriers.
ReplyDeletehttp://defense-update.com/20141030_v22_cancelled.html
ReplyDeleteIsrael cancelled orders for six V-22s to pay for second batch of F-35 purchases.
Similar thing is happening is Japan, where the F-3 program is being pushed back to pay for additional F-35s. This will put Japan in a significant disadvantage against the J-20 and the KFX.
The F-35 is affecting the readiness of not just the US military, but the military of other countries.
In few years any X-band radar with this processor will detect any stealth fighter.
ReplyDeletehttp://myscienceacademy.org/2014/09/20/computers-1000-times-faster-quick-change-materials-break-silicon-speed-limit-for-computers/