F-35 Testing Disrupted By Covit-19

[Brendan Cowan]

Article entitled "COVID-19: F-35 Testing Suspended; Edwards AFB Flight Tests Halted" from Breaking Defence.com on 27 March 2020.

[Luig]

LAST Paragraph from story above is most interesting:

"..."...Meanwhile, we hear that Australia, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, who want to stay at Edwards for their sovereign IOTE testing (the data which they gather is shared with the US) have not gotten an answer to whether they will remain there after roughly a year of requests. Our source says this is increasing friction with those allies and raising questions in their minds about the US commitment to a truly joint allied program."

[Brendan Cowan]

Nothing gets past you Phil!

[SpazSinbad]

Australian F-35A Lightning II achieves Initial Operational Capability 28 Dec 2020 DefMin

https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/ministe...ial-operational

"Australia’s F-35A Lightning II fleet can now be deployed on operations, with Initial Operational Capability being officially achieved today.

Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said the F-35s are the most advanced, multi-role stealth fighter in the world.

“The fifth-generation F-35A, along with the F/A-18F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler, is key to our air combat capability and critical to achieving the objectives set out in the 2020 Defence Strategic Update to Shape, Deter and Respond,” Minister Reynolds said.

“For the last two years, Defence has rigorously tested the F-35A fleet to assess aircraft and system performance, and declare this important milestone.

“I would like to thank everyone that has worked so hard to get us to this point; to have accomplished all the required testing and materiel delivery is remarkable.

“The Australian Defence Force now has an F-35A squadron ready to conduct technologically advanced strike and air combat roles, and another squadron dedicated to providing world-class training here in Australia.

“While 2020 presented significant challenges to all of us, and travel restrictions made it difficult to ferry our aircraft to Australia, the huge efforts of Defence, industry and our partners in the United States made today’s achievement possible.”

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said cooperation with industry had set Defence up for long-term success.

“Our defence industry has played a critical role in achieving today’s milestone, which continues the success story of Australia’s involvement in the F-35 global program,” Minister Price said.

“Just last month we announced that more than 50 Australian companies have shared in $2.7 billion in contracts, demonstrating the Morrison Government’s commitment to backing Australian industry and supporting Australian jobs.

“Australia will continue to work with the United States F-35 Joint Program Office and our industry partners as more aircraft are delivered through to 2023, and a mature capability is achieved.”

More information about the F-35A Lightning II is available at: https://www.airforce.gov.au/technology/airc...5a-lightning-ii

Images are available at:

https://images.defence.gov.au/assets/Home/S...35A&Type=Simple

This post has been edited by SpazSinbad on Dec 28 2020, 10:03 AM

[SpazSinbad]

There is a lot more to do for Australian Conditions with the F-35A, even though the aircraft was tested in various US conditions, including Alaska, and also in their climate controlled test chamber. Trust but Verify. The Norskemen and the Dutchies tested in their conditions also while depending upon the partner agreements (such as UK) one gets more insight into stuff to perhaps more easily declare IOC. Then it always depends upon what IOC means/definition for each country/service. Good luck with the TEST ickles. :-)

[Invader26]

Please tell me that the desert of Nevada and the hot plains of Texas, Arizona and New Mexico are different from Australia. Testing in those environments equally match Australia..

[SpazSinbad]

That would be nice. I did not mention other unique aspects of the F-35A operation in Australia (not that I know the details only a general sense of what is tested - perhaps on the net there is more about detail of whatever Oz unique F-35A tests were carried out). Elevation of the desert terrain would be one thing.

However for sure the F-35 (namely an F-35B) was thoroughly tested in the climatic chamber in USofA with the engine running from start up to full power (and in the case of the F-35B the hover/STOVL mode). Trust but verify remember.

Weapons loading and fuel along with other aspects of being in our environment would also be tested. For example weapons need to survive whatever storage, transport, loading then live firing for a successful result - TO BE SURE. Vaguely I remember an article mentioning Oz testing (and we don't have orange wire - for test recording) aircraft. The Israelis just received one for their test purposes. We do our stuff on the cheap which probably works out more expensive in the end, being penny wise but pound foolish. I dunno I'm not in the RAAF. The UK & Dutch for example did extensive weapon testing while we only get to see results - not quite the same. An example of our V&V.

"...V&V https://www.australiandefence.com.au/defenc...s-for-lightning
The first two jets to arrive in Australia will conduct Verification and Validation (V&V) activities in the unique Australian operating environment. This work is not intended to replicate the OT&E work done in the US, but rather to ensure that operations in the Australian environment, including the interface with the local IT environment are fully understood.

“We will also have an opportunity to compare the aircraft against the requirements we’ve identified for IOC and make sure we are fully prepared to meet those,” AVM Gordon added...."

ANOTHERIE reported in OUTstanding Detail: https://www.defence-today.com.au/modernisin...aafs-f-35-fleet
"...The two aircraft and some others arriving in early 2019 will embark on a two-year verification and validation program. Completing this will allow Initial Operational Capability to be declared in late 2020...."
________________________________

RIVETTING RAAF detail about IOC: https://www.airforce.gov.au/capability

"...Initial Operational Capability (IOC)
IOC can be declared when one or more subsets of the capability can be deployed on operations. IOC considers the personnel, training, major systems, supplies, facilities and training areas, logistics, support, command and management required to deliver the subset of capability required...."
__________________________________

THIS IS MORE LIKE A DEF: https://adbr.com.au/raaf-f-35a-capability-achieves-ioc/

"...The IOC milestone recognises the service’s ability to conduct type-conversion courses for pilots and maintainers in Australia, that Australia can produce its own mission data files (MDF), and that a sufficiently deep level of spares and sovereign industry support has been established. The RAAF now has more than 40 qualified F-35A pilots and 220 maintainers trained on the F-35A.

The aircraft has been subjected to a detailed verification and validation (V&V) process over the past two years, a process that has proven the F-35A can operate with other ADF capabilities such as the E-7A Wedgetail and KC-30A MRTT, can be deployed to forward bases such as Townsville or Tindal, and can integrate with the ADF’s command and control system...."

This post has been edited by SpazSinbad on Dec 28 2020, 08:51 PM

[SpazSinbad]

Can't go past a grumpy monkey lo viz I suppose: MEANWHILE Nov 2020

https://www.scramble.nl/images/news/2020/no...Gibbs_1_640.jpg

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[enfield38]

The Danes have opted for toned down red and white national markings on their Lightning IIs which, it's claimed, don't compromise the properties of the coating.

[SpazSinbad]

Sent to me today but no other details :-(

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