This is via Defense News. Go there to read the whole thing but here are the good bits...
"The JPO is currently estimating Ops Test of Block 2B to commence in early 2015 and complete in early 2016, and the [Operational Test] for Block 3C IOC capabilities to commence in mid-2016 and to end in early 2018," said Air Force spokesman Maj. Chad Steffey.I'm not going to get into the F-35 vs. F-22 debate. In hindsight thats always been a false choice. A choice pushed on us by the F-35's critics.....
The service's Air Combat Command has not set a new IOC date for the F-35.
Carlisle said that the F-35 could be a valuable combat asset even with the earlier Block 2B software.
"Block 2B has capability that if the combatant commander needed it, we would deploy it. Would it be IOC? No," he said.
"We in the Air Force designated a set of capabilities to include [Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses], [Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses], air-to-ground and some air-to-air capability that we consider the minimum required for initially operational capable," he said.
He noted that the Air Force has deployed many aircraft that had not yet formally entered service, including the F-15E Strike Eagle, MQ-9 Reaper UAV and the E-8 Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) surveillance plane.The F-35 even outpaces its larger twin-engine cousin, the F-22 Raptor, in certain areas, including electronic countermeasures and electronic counter-counter measures. Carlisle also praised the jet's infrared sensors and air-to-ground radar as "phenomenal."
What I will get into is the stance that the USAF and USMC are taking when it comes to the F-35. Both services are prepared to deploy the system in Block 2B configuration and the USMC has taken it a step further and stated that they will declare it IOC with that milestone.
The critics have lost, McCain is senile and this war is over.
The F-35 will be the primary fighter for US forces for the foreseeable future.
Has block 2b changed or is it still just internal gravity bombs, internal aam for self defense and sub-sonic flight? If it hasn't changed then declaring ioc with it is just a publicity stunt.
ReplyDeleteAlso every other estimate of software delivery has been wrong. Why do these suddenly have credibility?
Here is a graphic that demonstrates the F-35B's Block 2B capabilities.
ReplyDeleteA short list:
1. Active & Passively use AIM-120
2. A2G fixed & moving targets
3. Initial weapons (AIM-120, 500lb LGB & 1000lb JDAM)
On a side note... F-35 better than F-22 at ECM & ECCM.. HOLY KRAP Batman!
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ReplyDeletewhat have you heard about the ability of it to carry the SDB's? those seem to be quite useful in COIN operations to support frontline troops and urban areas, is it being fitted with the ability to carry them internally?
ReplyDeleteSDB1s are part of Block3 (not sure what sub-block). 4 Can be carried (one BLU-61 launcher) per bay, even the F-35B's smaller bay. SDB2 (with it's tri-mode seeker) is planned as part of Block4.
ReplyDeletewow.
ReplyDeleteand thats all gonna be part of blk 2~!
Sweetman and company are definitely not getting the whole truth out.
thanks Spudman...time for a new post.