F-35 Program - General Discussion
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John Fedup
The Bunker Group
It’s amazing how much more difficult reassembly usually is compared to taking stuff apart.
Exactly, which is why I haven't bought a pommy car in the last 40 years. If there was a hard and awkward way of doing something the pommies would find it and make it SOP. Their cars were bastards (and expensive) to work on. $20.00 for the part and $500.00 mechanics rates because of the time spent getting access to replace the $20.00 part and reinstalling everything that you had to remove to gain access.
Yep, but there are a few that you don't have to do much too until they reach a very ripe old age.
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You’re obviously speaking of Japanese built cars
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
Absolutely, at least wrt Toyota, personal experience!
My stepfather traded in his Prius when it was, IIRC, 13 years old. He'd never had to do much to it, except when some scrotes nicked the catalytic converter. He has another Toyota now. He told me of a taxi driver he knew who had a Prius which had done over 300,000 miles (almost 500,000 km) & was still working fine. The owner was going to buy a new one when that one finally gave up the ghost.
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
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John Fedup
The Bunker Group
Here’s a summary about the forthcoming tech refresh 3 and block 4 software upgrade. A lot of additional computing power together with the block 4 software will make for a significant performance enhancement. All depends on the improved F135 or possibly an adaptive cycle engine. I guess one positive of Canada’s delayed acquisition is our jets will likely have much of this new kit included. 
www.sandboxx.us
The F-35 is getting a $15 billion upgrade that’ll make it a whole new beast - Sandboxx
The F-35 is getting a massive $15 billion upgrade that will make it a dramatically more capable fighter.
www.sandboxx.us
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
The F135 engine will be upgraded, no GE XA100 adapted cycle engine for the F-35. Great news for P&W, not so much for GE. The new F135 core will supposedly address the thermal management and power generation for block 4 but range will only be minimally improved, not the 20-30% promised by the XA100. This leaves GE waiting for NGAD and the B-21 (which should be upgraded once the XA100 or XA101 becomes reality. Huge hit for industrial capacity if P&W were to get the XA101 contract for the future jets. GE would be left with SFA wrt high performance military jet engines.
www.defenseone.com
Air Force Abandons New F-35 Engine in Favor of Upgrades
If approved by Congress, it’s a win for F-35 engine maker Pratt & Whitney and a blow to General Electric.
www.defenseone.com
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
The adapted cycle engine saga may continue (I doubt it will for the F-35 but it should). The attached article does mention some impressive fuel burn / range benefits (if true). Of more concern is the claim of that P&W’s engine core improvement for the F135 engine won’t fully address the extra power needed for the block 4 upgrade.
www.defenseone.com
The New F-35A Engine Would Be a Win-Win-Win-Win
The fuel savings alone would please taxpayers, environmentalists, the Pentagon and the industrial base.
www.defenseone.com
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
Yet another story on the JSF’s engine. Apparently the required engine spec for the F135 engine wasn’t sufficient for the F-35’s actual needs, the result is an engine that runs too hot leading to reduced service life. One has to wonder whether the ECU for the F135 engine will actually meet the power and cooling demands for block 4 and TR3. Very limited range improvement with the ECU as well. Both ECU and the AETP should be considered despite the cost. If ECU doesn’t pass muster then the AETP engine can go into A and C versions at least and AETP is still needed for NGAD, FA/XX, and probably the B-21 at some point. Finding out the ECU can’t handle block 4 and TR3 post 2028 would a huge incentive for Chinese military adventures.
www.thedrive.com
F-35 Engine Running Too Hot Due To 'Under-Speccing,' Upgrade Now Vital (Updated)
The F-35's engine is having to work harder to cool and power the aircraft's systems, leading to a logistical mess.
www.thedrive.com
The F-35 TR3 has been postponed -- again!
Now it seems it will not be available until April 2024! This is highly critical since it is needed to implement Block 4.
I was wondering why the USAF did not indicate higher orders for Lot 16 and 17 -- perhaps they had an inkling this would happen?
This is incredible. The F-35 has been under development since 2001 and still a lot of key functionality (that relies on block 4) is not available. I wonder when the F-35 can start using the JSM missile?
breakingdefense.com
Now it seems it will not be available until April 2024! This is highly critical since it is needed to implement Block 4.
I was wondering why the USAF did not indicate higher orders for Lot 16 and 17 -- perhaps they had an inkling this would happen?
This is incredible. The F-35 has been under development since 2001 and still a lot of key functionality (that relies on block 4) is not available. I wonder when the F-35 can start using the JSM missile?
Readiness woes dominate F-35 hearing, but other issues remain - Breaking Defense
In his first testimony before Congress as the F-35 Program Executive Officer, Air Force Lt. Gen. Mike Schmidt said just 53% of the US Joint Strike Fighter fleet was mission capable as of February 2023, a statistic he called “unacceptable.”
breakingdefense.com
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
The power and thermal issues with the existing F135 engine make the TR3/block 4 upgrade problematic anyway. As per my previous posts wrt the ECU, this or AETP or both need to happen as well.The F-35 TR3 has been postponed -- again!
Now it seems it will not be available until April 2024! This is highly critical since it is needed to implement Block 4.
I was wondering why the USAF did not indicate higher orders for Lot 16 and 17 -- perhaps they had an inkling this would happen?
This is incredible. The F-35 has been under development since 2001 and still a lot of key functionality (that relies on block 4) is not available. I wonder when the F-35 can start using the JSM missile?
Readiness woes dominate F-35 hearing, but other issues remain - Breaking Defense
In his first testimony before Congress as the F-35 Program Executive Officer, Air Force Lt. Gen. Mike Schmidt said just 53% of the US Joint Strike Fighter fleet was mission capable as of February 2023, a statistic he called “unacceptable.”
One of the things I find very concerning is that a lot of key capabilities are simply not present in the current block 3F. For example, I believe the current F-35 has not anti-ship missiles integrated and thus no proper anti-ship capabilities. Does the 3F have any cruise missiles integrated at all? Another example is lack of SEAD/DEAD capabilities. Given the tense situation with China and Taiwan I would say these are huge and quite concerning issues.
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
Absolutely agree, block 4 is extremely important. This upgrade needs more power which is why a CYA solution (ECU and AETP) should both be pursued IMO. The significantly improved fuel burn for a XA100 engine would be extremely important for the Pacific region even ii were only compatible with the “A” and “C” versions of the F-35. Needed for NGAD fighter anyway.
By all reports the F-35 isn’t too bad at SEAD/DEAD.
IHFP
Member
This is one of those situations where I would like to know more, but I don't want them to release information that will assist potential adversaries.
- F-35 Designed for War Happening in Ukraine, Former Test Pilot Says (businessinsider.com)
I'm a little weary of articles such as ""A-10" vs. "F-35"". Both aircraft are amazing tools, that have different utilities. Mind as well write an article arguing Pencil vs. Pen.
- Quarterback in the Sky: The F-35 Is Far More Than Just a Fighter Jet - 19FortyFive
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Lockheed Martin awarded a US$7,795,532,764 contract for 126 F-35s in lot 17 that include:
(a) 81 F-35As (43 USAF, 8 Finland, 7 Italy, 6 Netherlands, 6 Poland, 4 Japan, 4 Belgium, & 3 Denmark);
(b) 26 F-35Bs (15 USMC, 7 United Kingdom, 2 Italy, & 2 Japan); &
(c) 19 F-35Cs (13 USN & 6 for the USMC).
(a) 81 F-35As (43 USAF, 8 Finland, 7 Italy, 6 Netherlands, 6 Poland, 4 Japan, 4 Belgium, & 3 Denmark);
(b) 26 F-35Bs (15 USMC, 7 United Kingdom, 2 Italy, & 2 Japan); &
(c) 19 F-35Cs (13 USN & 6 for the USMC).
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