Norway May Upgrade F-16s, Put Off New Fighters

(Source: Aftenposten; issued April 18, 2008)

Just 10 days before the bidding deadline, Norwegian finance minister Kristin Halvorsen has said maybe the country's old planes can be upgraded, pushing the planned purchase contract into the future.

This comes after the competing companies, Lockheed Martin of the US and Saab of Sweden, have used millions of dollars in marketing their respective concepts, and prepared thousands and thousands of pages of documents to support their bids.

Lockheed Martin is vying for the contract with its Joint Strike Fighter proposal, while Saab is putting forth its JAS Gripen, which it claims it can deliver for a far lower price than Lockheed's offer.

The bidding process so far has been fraught with controversy. The European consortium offering its Eurofighter withdrew as a result of alleged favouritism towards the Americans.

Sweden's bidding is thought to be hindered by the country not being a member of NATO.

"We need to consider the costs to upgrade the fighter jets we have, so that they can be used for some years longer, or if we should go for more investment now. If we go for new investment, we must consider the price, and the quality, of the different choices," said Finance Minister Halvorsen.

When asked if this means a postponement of the new fighter plane project, Halvorsen answered: "It's a real possibility."

She added: "It depends on how much it costs to upgrade the F-16s to the standard we need, how long they will hold up in quality, and the costs of this against those of buying new airplanes."

-ends-

BAE Starts Manufacture of First F-35 Production Aircraft

Source: BAE Systems; issued April 18, 2008)

MANCHESTER, England --- BAE Systems has cut metal on its first component for the F-35 Lightning II production aircraft. This opening cut, on a component part of the aft fuselage, signifies a major milestone for the F-35 Lightning II programme.

The metal cut is for the first production F-35 Lightning II aircraft which will enter into service with the US Air Force (USAF) in 2010 and follows the production contract announcement made in December last year. The contract - a Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) contract - is worth £25m to BAE Systems and will see the production of two conventional take off and landing variants.

The component was cut by BAE Systems’ supplier Hyde, at their Manchester factory. The component will move to BAE Systems’ Samlesbury site in Lancashire for further manufacturing work before all parts are assembled together before being shipped to programme partner, Lockheed Martin’s site in Texas for final assembly.

Tom Fillingham, F-35 Lightning II Managing Director said: “This is a proud and important moment for BAE Systems. We are progressing well through the development stage of the F-35 Lightning II programme and now, concurrently with development aircraft manufacture, we are producing the first production aircraft. This is a clear signal of how mature the product is at this early stage of its life.”

Three versions of the F-35 Lightning II are planned: a conventional take-off and landing (CTOL), a short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) and a carrier variant (CV). Each is derived from a common design, and will ensure that the F-35 JSF meets the performance needs of the US Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy, the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, and allied defence forces worldwide, while staying within strict affordability targets.

BAE Systems Inc in the US also brings key capabilities to the F-35 programme and delivers significant elements of the programme including electronic warfare, advanced low observable apertures, advanced countermeasure systems, vehicle management computer and active inceptor systems.

The latest financial report is also showing the program will come in under budget, and as production gets under way, the costs will continue to drop.

quote:

Originally posted by Sgt_Schlappy:
Norway May Upgrade F-16s, Put Off New Fighters

(Source: Aftenposten; issued April 18, 2008)

Just 10 days before the bidding deadline, Norwegian finance minister Kristin Halvorsen has said maybe the country's old planes can be upgraded, pushing the planned purchase contract into the future.

This comes after the competing companies, Lockheed Martin of the US and Saab of Sweden, have used millions of dollars in marketing their respective concepts, and prepared thousands and thousands of pages of documents to support their bids.

-update-


Sweden Offers 48 Gripen Fighters to Norway, Promises Over 100% Offsets

(Source: Swedish Ministry of Defence; issued April 28, 2008)

Today Sweden presented a bid to the Norwegian Ministry of Defence offering joint development, and sale to Norway, of 48 Gripen aircraft. The bid also includes support equipment, support systems and coordinated training, maintenance and support, which would have major advantages for both Sweden and Norway.

Delivery to Norway is scheduled to begin in 2016 and extend over a period of several years. Sweden intends to use a number of Gripen aircraft of the same version specified in the bid, provided Norway accepts the offer. The offer falls within the existing economic plan for the Gripen system. If Norway accepts the offer contract negotiations will follow, after which the Riksdag must give its approval in necessary areas.

"Gripen is very competitive and is attracting much increased international interest. The reasons are obvious. The system has verifiable purchase and operating costs, as well as a good record of industrial cooperation and technical development together with other countries. Gripen is a high-tech, tried and tested system that fully meets Norway´s requirements. Moreover, it has full NATO interoperability", says Minister for Defence Sten Tolgfors.

The offer also contains a number of proposals on possible areas for deeper cooperation between Swedish and Norwegian authorities. These proposals concern defence research and military technology development, security and safety technology, logistics, training and joint exercises.

"Sweden´s ability to offer Gripen as an option for Norway confirms the strong links and good relations between our countries. We face new challenges and opportunities in our region. Nordic defence cooperation is steadily growing and is a key area of development for defence policy. If Norway chooses Gripen this will be highly significant for defence policy," says Mr Tolgfors.

The Defence Materiel Administration and the Government Offices will work with the Norwegian evaluation team until 1 August 2008 to further elaborate and specify the proposed possibilities for cooperation. The Norwegian Government aims to submit a proposal to the Storting (Norwegian Parliament) so that it can take a decision in the first half of 2009. (ends)


Sweden’s offer of 48 Gripen fighters to Norway includes joint development of the next-generation variant of the aircraft. (Gripen Int’l illustration)

quote:

Originally posted by Torch8306:
The latest financial report is also showing the program will come in under budget, and as production gets under way, the costs will continue to drop.

I don't know how that is possible since they haven't produced a flyable VTOL version yet. They built the prototype VTOL for the contract bidding, but haven't made one since. The refueling receptacle is the exact same spot as the Intake for VTOL. Guess they pulled the sheets over our eyes again.

Ye of little faith, Caninedale...

Don't you know that if the public relations folks at Corporate put it out in a press release, that it has just GOT to be true???

I did see in the media that they actually did an engine run on the engine that will be used in the airframe whenever they get that built.

Since the F-35A will start production, I would assume they're basing their projections from this assembly. I haven't read anyone ordering the VTOL besides the USMC and Royal Navy. Plus, the refueling receptacle for the VTOL will be a retractable probe from the side of the fuselage, as are the ones on all the other Navy/Marine fighter aircraft.
The Air Force is the only version using the top mount refueling point and the tanker boom. The Navy, Marines, and foreign nations use the drogue basket for refueling. It would be rather difficult for carrier based aircraft to have a refueling boom attached to fighter aircraft, wouldn't it?

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/f-35b.htm
Third paragraph.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Torch8306,

Of course it will use probe/drouge refueling. That article makes it sound like there is a flyable aircraft though. The unique thing with the B-model is it is a totally different airframe from the A model. When Lokheed sold this plane as one, it was sort of a false notion. It will be differnt from the ground up. Not the same engine, fuselage, or landing gear. The only thing similar will be the forwarde cockpit. So they basicall sold the govt two aircraft not one. Oh yeah...this is still all theory as they haven't even produced one yet.

quote:

Oh yeah...this is still all theory as they haven't even produced one yet.

You mean this one?

Is that a true flyable version? Or is it a wind tunnel body? If you read this article you will see a bunch of dates listed. It was supposed to start hover checks in April 2008. On May 1, 2008 they actually did the first engine run. Sounds like they are about a five months behind even getting an engine in a plane.

http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/071219-f-35b-st...version-rollout.html

That's true, the pictures are from pretest models. The two, currently flying, are "A" models. Though the VTOL used for contract award wasn't a preproduction model, it still proved it's abilities. Adding the fuselage probe won't even be an issue for the "B" and "C" models.

Lockheed Wins $197M for JSF Long-Lead Items

(Source: US Department of Defense; issued May 14, 2008)

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded an advance acquisition contract with an estimated value of $197,050,000 for long lead materials and effort associated with the Joint Strike Fighter Air System Low Rate Initial Production Lot III procurement of 8 Air Force Conventional Take Off and Landing, 8 Marine Corps Short Take-off and Vertical Landing and 2 United Kingdom, STOVL aircraft.

Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, (35 percent); El Segundo, Calif., (25 percent); Warton, United Kingdom, (20 percent); Orlando, Fla., (10 percent); Nashua, N.H., (5 percent); and Baltimore, Md., (5 percent), and work is expected to be completed in Feb. 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured.

The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-08-C-0028).

-ends-

Lockheed Wins Order for 12 F-35s; $2.2Bn Funds JSF Lot 2 Production

(Source: Lockheed Martin; issued May 22, 2008)

FORT WORTH, Texas --- The United States Department of Defense has authorized the release of funds to buy six conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) F-35A Lightning IIs for the U.S. Air Force, with provisional approval to purchase six short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) F-35Bs for the U.S. Marine Corps following a senior leadership review and the inaugural flight of that variant.

The 12 aircraft will be built in the second phase of F-35 low-rate initial production (LRIP 2).

The $2.2 billion contract authorization comes after the Defense Acquisition Board's recommendation to release the funds and proceed with production.

"We welcome the board's decision and their vote of confidence in the F-35 program," said Dan Crowley, Lockheed Martin executive vice president and F-35 program general manager. "We're seeing excellent progress on our production line, with 17 preproduction aircraft in assembly flow, the first two production-model F-35s already under way and unprecedented assembly quality across the board."

Long-lead funds of $197 million for LRIP 3 were released on May 14 for at least 18 additional F-35s. The LRIP I contract for the first two F-35A production aircraft was finalized and issued in July 2007.

The first F-35A test aircraft has completed 40 flights and has exceeded performance and reliability expectations. The inaugural flight of the first F-35B is on schedule for late spring/early summer.


The Pentagon has released funding for six more F-35As (above); funds for the Marine Corps’ first six F-35B STOVL fighters will be released only after the variant’s first flight, due in June. (Lockheed Martin photo)

Man I love the F-35 since it will be the second best fighter in the world that only the F-22 is better.

Dutch Party Softens Opposition to JSF

(Source: Netherlands Information Service; issued May 29, 2008)

THE HAGUE --- The Labour (PvdA) coalition party does not appear to want to create a crisis over the cabinet's decision to participate in the next phase of the Joint Strike Fighter. This means the Lower House is likely to back the purchase of these US fighter aircraft by the Netherlands.

Defence State Secretary Jack de Vries wants to promise the aircraft builder, Lockheed Martin, that the Netherlands along with other customers will together take a guaranteed 1,000 JSF aircraft. If the Netherlands and the other customers promise this, the manufacturer is prepared to set a fixed price in which the development costs are more fairly divided between the customers, the state secretary said in the Lower House.

De Vries did not yet wish to say how many JSFs he wants to purchase. In the corridors, there is talk of 57 aircraft. These are in due course to replace the F-16 fleet.

The cabinet agreed in the coalition accord - a very rigid document - that it will make a decision on the purchase of a "first batch" of JSF aircraft during the current administrative period to 2011. The decision is expected to be made in 2010.

PvdA was previously an opponent of the JSF but feels itself bound by the coalition accord. On Tuesday evening, the PvdA did demand an external investigation of alternatives to the JSF. But yesterday, it no longer found this necessary.

De Vries does support an investigation, but not by external experts. PvdA MP Angeline Eijsink reluctantly agreed that the Christian democrat (CDA) state secretary would carry out the study himself. She "trusts" that De Vries is in a position to guarantee the independence of the research.

Eijsink wants De Vries to investigate seven alternative fighter aircraft, of which the Eurofighter is one. But Eijsink did not want to name the other six aircraft. De Vries reacted with irritation. He said he expected the House to know what it was talking about.

The House will vote today on the question and on De Vries' wish to participate in the test phase of the JSF. He wants to sign a declaration of intend this month for the purchase of two test aircraft for 274 million euros.

The Socialist Party (SP), leftwing Greens (GroenLinks) and Party for Freedom (PVV) are opposed to Dutch participation in the test phase. The CDA, conservatives (VVD) and small Christian parties ChristenUnie and SGP are in favour. The PvdA's support is essential for this participation.

-ends-

Lockheed Martin F-35B Succeeds in STOVL Propulsion Ground Test

(Source: Lockheed Martin; issued May 29, 2008)

FORT WORTH, Texas --- The shaft-driven lift fan propulsion system that will enable the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter to perform short takeoffs and vertical landings (STOVL) operated for the first time in the aircraft during ground testing on Sunday, May 25. At full power, the F-35B's system generates more than 40,000 pounds of lifting force, or about 170 percent more than current-generation STOVL fighters.

Pilot Graham Tomlinson of BAE Systems performed two conversions from conventional (wing-borne) to STOVL (jet-borne) mode with the aircraft anchored to a specially instrumented hover pit at Lockheed Martin's STOVL Operations Test Facility. The F-35B is conducting a final series of ground tests before its first flight in the coming weeks.

"The F-35B's STOVL propulsion system operated exactly as expected, providing the power output that our models forecast and transitioning very smoothly from conventional to STOVL-mode and back," said Bobby Williams, Lockheed Martin vice president and F-35 deputy program manager. "We expect the same kind of seamless transition when the F-35B begins STOVL-mode flights in early 2009."

The F-35B combines the profound advantages of stealth and supersonic speed with the ability to operate from small ships and austere bases near front lines.

The F-35B STOVL propulsion system has logged more than 1,900 hours of operation on test stands. In 2001 the X-35B, a proof-of-concept STOVL aircraft using a prototype of the same propulsion system, completed 14 short takeoffs, 17 vertical takeoffs and 27 vertical landings. On July 20, 2001, the X-35B became the first aircraft in history to perform a short takeoff, accelerate to supersonic speed in level flight and descend for a vertical landing in a single mission.

The STOVL propulsion system comprises a Pratt & Whitney F135 turbofan engine, a drive shaft leading from the engine face to a gear box and clutch connecting to a counter-rotating Rolls-Royce lift fan located directly behind the cockpit, a 3-bearing swivel duct at the rear that vectors the engine thrust downward and provides yaw control, and a roll nozzle under each wing for lateral stability.

During the conversion from conventional flight to STOVL flight, all doors associated with the STOVL propulsion system begin to open including the lift fan inlet and exhaust doors, the roll-nozzle doors, the auxiliary-inlet doors atop the fuselage (providing increased efficiency to the main engine) and the aft fuselage 3-bearing swivel duct doors. The 3-bearing swivel duct begins vectoring engine thrust downward as well. Once all doors are open, the clutch engages and the lift fan begins turning. As the lift fan reaches full speed the clutch locks, providing a direct physical connection between engine and lift fan. The aircraft control laws then begin using the STOVL propulsion system to provide aircraft flight control. The system operates automatically at the touch of a button.

The F-35B will operate in conventional mode during its initial series of flights to evaluate overall flying qualities and airworthiness. In preparation for the F-35B's first flight, pilot Tomlinson flew the F-35A for the first time on May 28, assessing the aircraft's handling at various power settings. In early 2009, the F-35B will conduct initial STOVL flight operations before moving to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., for further testing.

Sunday's test marked the first use of the newly constructed hover pit and its supporting facilities. "Our aim is to retire technical risk well before we deliver F-35s to the fleet," Williams said. "Our investment in facilities like the hover pit are helping us do just that while building confidence in the test program."

Like I said above. Not impressed as it was supposed to be doing hover checks by April 1, 2008 according to the origional schedule. I would be suprised if it meets a one year late timeline.

Overall projected costs have been revised down .3% or about $1 billion. The decrease was due to lower than anticipated support costs, labor rates, and learning curve improvements...
According to MG Charles Davis, program executive officer, the GAO estimates that the program costs increased $38 billion was unsound, since they didn't develop their own numbers, had no basis for their conclusions, and no numbers to support their claim.
Calls have been made for the GAO to be shaken up for precisely problems like this. The "Watch Dog" is failing at their job.