F-35 Joint Strike Fighter News, Videos and pics Thread

Brumby

Major
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The delay in the 2B and would not make it to IOC was expected because it is a known fact that development was 6 months behind schedule.

The more interesting comment is the following :
The F-35 is designed to fly in groups of four and they are all supposed to share their data with each other. The military doesn’t like to talk about it, but the planes do not fly in a tight formation. It’s more like a diamond spread out over dozens or hundreds of miles. During December testing, the program found there were problems with the fusion engine’s results. When one F-35 is using its sensors to look at ground targets the fusion engine works extremely well. When two planes are sharing data, all goes well. When three planes share, things are pretty good. When four planes share, the system can report ghost targets and other anomalies that Bogdan did not offer details about.

I suspected all along the optimal flight formation of four was a diamond shape because that would provide the optimal sensor coverage. The limiting factor in displacement between planes I suspect is not the sensor range but rather the MADL range which probably is more restricted because it is a LPI waveform, the details of which had never been released. The part I don't understand is why the threat data is significantly degraded when shared above three planes - this is a mystery to me. The only plausible reason I can think of is that in a fourth plane scenario, the MADL range becomes overextended whereby the fidelity starts to be compromised.
 
am just reporting ...
now about
the integrity of the F-35B’s aluminium 496 bulkhead, which bears critical structural loads where the trailing edge of the wing attaches to the aft fuselage
in addition to the software:
US Marines stick to F-35B dates despite new problems
The US Marine Corps has decided to stand-up the first operational F-35B squadron in July with known software, structural and logistical deficiencies that must be fixed later, says Lt Gen Chris Bogdan, executive officer of the joint programme office.

That decision means the first F-35B unit will achieve its initial operational capability milestone on time in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2015, but with some operational restrictions, maintenance workarounds and the possibility of an internal redesign of a critical bulkhead, Bogdan says.

In 2010, the USMC accepted that the first operational
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squadron would enter service in 2015 with a less capable version of software than demanded by the Air Force for the F-35A and the navy for the F-35C.

That lesser software version – dubbed Block 2B – will be incomplete at the time of IOC. The software performs the basic flight control functions well, Bogdan says, but is unable to handle the most extreme challenge for the F-35’s vaunted “sensor fusion” capability.

The F-35’s mission systems software processes data being collected by various onboard sensors into a complete operational picture that is presented to the pilot. In a scenario with four F-35s flying in formation against both ground and air threats, the sensor fusion system is designed to pass targeting information between aircraft using the multi-platform advanced data link (MADL).

Recent testing has shown, however, that the software algorithms become confused with three or four aircraft sharing data about the same target, Bogdan says. Each aircraft senses the target’s location and characteristics slightly differently, and the algorithms are unable to determine if there is only one target or more than one target.

The F-35B’s pilots have learned to use various work-arounds, he says. For example, four-aircraft formations can be broken down into groups of two aircraft, where the sensor fusion algorithms have proven more reliable, he says.

A completed version of the Block 2B software that fixes the problem should be available by October, Bogdan says.

Meanwhile, Bogdan also says he is worried about the integrity of the F-35B’s aluminium 496 bulkhead, which bears critical structural loads where the trailing edge of the wing attaches to the aft fuselage. In 2004, programme officials reduced the weight of the F-35B by about 1,360kg (3,000lb). Those changes included switching the bulkhead material from titanium to lighter-weight aluminium.

The lighter bulkhead has since proved susceptible to structural cracking, requiring a series of “patches” all over the 496 bulkhead. There are now so many patches that programme officials are concerned it may be necessary to redesign the bulkhead for production aircraft, Bogdan says.

Finally, Lockheed’s autonomic logistics information system (ALIS) is not ready to support a growing fleet of operational and test aircraft, Bogdan says. It will take a few years to resolve the ALIS deficiencies, and until then F-35B maintainers must use workarounds to inspect and repair the aircraft.
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... the MADL range which probably is more restricted because it is a LPI waveform, ...

first for amateurs like me :) MADL = Multifunction Advanced Data Link; LPI = Low Probability of Intercept

and now let me say this (it's related to finding the solution(s) for a swarm of airplanes, recent posts by Brumby here): for half of my life now I've been involved in nonlinear minimization, on its practical side -- sometimes to the point when my eyes soared, head throbbed LOL -- and I feel sympathetic to guys who are implementing this into F-35
 

asif iqbal

Lieutenant General
Has anyone reported the first Italian built F35?

The first non American built F35 is under construction in Italy and they will build both F35A and F35B and over 750 Italian jobs are created working directly on the project not to mention indirect jobs

I only just heard maybe someone can post link I am on my mobile !
 
here's what an Electronic Warfare Officer allegedly said according to
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How does the Growler, and Electronic Attack as a whole, fit in with the F-35?
"Truthfully, there is no telling right now. There are too many unfulfilled promises with the F-35 to really know what it will be EVENTUALLY capable of. There are some exciting things talked about with F-35, but that program has had too many issues for me to hold my breath on anything. That said, history has proven even the most stealthy of aircraft needs EA support."

"As far as the Marines hanging there hat completely on the F-35 as the end-all, be-all, well, good luck to them. Their Prowlers have been indispensable to all the services, particularly over the last 14 years, and that will become a DoD wide capability gap. As of right now, I do not believe the Navy will be able to assume the Marine Prowler’s support responsibilities, unless the full Growler expanded buy goes forward. I think Marine Air has hedged a lot of their future existence on two very questionable platforms, F-35 and V-22. I hope it works out for them."
 

bd popeye

The Last Jedi
VIP Professional
F-35 Helmet

The F-35’s Helmet Mounted Display Systems provide pilots with unprecedented situational awareness. All the information pilots need to complete their missions – airspeed, heading, altitude, targeting information and warnings – is projected on the helmet’s visor, rather than on a traditional Heads-up Display.
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