The 1,000th F-35 Has Been Built

[Yommie]

We don't run around calling ourselves a " super power"

View attachment 9958

You hear that? Forever developing world.

 

[Fatman17]

The 1,000th F-35 Has Been Built​

Delays with a key upgrade program mean Lockheed Martin has yet to deliver the 1,000th F-35 and others to their customers.
View attachment 9775
Lockheed Martin has hit a huge milestone in F-35 Joint Strike Fighter production. However, that accomplishment, while outstanding, is complicated by the ongoing saga surrounding the development and testing of Tech Refresh-3 (TR-3) hardware configuration. TR-3 underpins the F-35's future capabilities, known collectively as Block 4. Delays with TR-3 mean that F-35s are being parked and not delivered after they are constructed, waiting for these features. So is the case for the 1,000th F-35.
We asked Lockheed Martin about the status of deliveries of F-35s, including the 1,000th example, and they gave us the following statement:
"We continue to produce F-35s at rate and have jets in various stages of the final production process. Once these jets receive the necessary TR-3 hardware and final TR-3 software is available, they will continue through the production process, including parking, until they are delivered."

Regardless, hitting the 1,000 mark is really an incredible accomplishment for the controversial program that has struggled significantly at times.

As of early January, the F-35 enterprise has amassed over 773,000 flying hours, trained over 2,280 pilots and 15,400 maintainers across 14 flying services around the world, and flown more than 469,000 total sorties. There are now 32 bases and 11 ships hosting or capable of hosting F-35 units. As of now, there are a whopping 17 countries participating in the international Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program.

View attachment 9771

Demand for the F-35 has never been higher. Recent geopolitical events and shifting threats have spiked orders. For newer customers or existing ones that are ordering more jets, getting TR-3 jets and potentially Block 4 capabilities will be of significant value. They will be receiving a far more mature aircraft and one with drastically expanded capabilities and growth potential than past versions.

Block 4 will include many new features, including much-expanded processing power, new displays, enhanced cooling, new EOTS and DAS electro-optical sensors, and a slew of additional weapons that will really unlock the F-35's potential. Above all else, the jet's new radar and electronic warfare suite should give it its biggest boost. The electronic warfare aspect alone is the biggest advantage Block 4 will bring, according to the Air Combat Command's top uniformed officer.

The current issue is that F-35s need a new hardware backbone and associated baseline software, collectively called TR-3, to handle the various demands of the Block 4 upgrades. TR-3 has and continues to suffer numerous delays in its development.

The increasing age of the F-35 program's current fleet of test jets and other limitations in existing test infrastructure, especially with regard to software labs on the ground, have compounded these issues. The first flight of an F-35 test jet with a version of the TR-3 backbone took place in January 2023 and efforts are underway to create a dedicated TR-3 test force with a total of six Joint Strike Fighters.

View attachment 9772

As of December, the expectation is that the development of TR-3 will be finished sometime between April and June of this year, according to Defense News. If that schedule holds, this work be done between a year and 18 months later than expected.

The delays have also translated into significant added costs for the F-35 program. At a House Armed Services Committee hearing in December, Representative Donald Norcross, a Democrat from New Jersey, said that problems with TR-3 had led to a $1 billion cost overrun. The full estimated cost of the F-35 program though the end of its expected lifecycle in the 2070s is currently pegged around around $1.7 trillion, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

View attachment 9773

At the House Armed Services Committee hearing last month, Air Force Lt. Gen. Michael Schmidt, the current head of the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO), seemed less than optimistic about the likelihood of there being no further TR-3 delays.

"Relative to the stability issues that were that we're seeing, we are working through them. ... I wish I had all of the solutions in place that prove to me that when I do something in the lab, it's going to show up that way in the air," Schmidt told the assembled legislators. "We have a number of fixes addressing the stability challenges. We will get to a stable, capable, maintainable airplane here."

However, "the data tells me it will be in the middle of spring, but I would have had a more positive answer six months ago ... so I don't have a super solid 'I can guarantee you this date,'" he added.

After the completion of the development of the TR-3 package, these improvements will still need to be integrated into existing jets. The F-35 program is separately pursuing upgrades to the Pratt & Whitney F135 engines that power all variants of the Joint Strike Fighter, as well as power and thermal management systems, which will also be critical for enabling Block 4 capabilities. The issues surrounding the F135 engine have become a very hot topic of debate.



In the meantime, the U.S. military has made clear that it will not accept any new F-35s until the TR-3 issues are ironed out. This is ostensibly because the necessary checkout flights cannot be conducted on the jets until the hardware and its core software work reliably.

So, for at least another few months, the 1,000th F-35, and many others, are set to stay parked away waiting for work on the core TR-3 upgrades to be finished.

The 1,000th F-35 Has Been Built

Delays with a key upgrade program mean Lockheed Martin has yet to deliver the 1,000th F-35 and others to their customers.

www.thedrive.com

Amazing indeed

 

[retaxis]

How many F-35s to win the next Iraq or Afghanistan? Even Iran is out of reach of America power now they can still pick on Syria tho

 

[huanghong]

Software issues caused massive delays, and in 2017 Lockheed was scheduled to deliver at least 1,092 aircraft by the end of 2023.

 

[Shanlung]

The 1,000th F-35 Has Been Built​

Delays with a key upgrade program mean Lockheed Martin has yet to deliver the 1,000th F-35 and others to their customers.
View attachment 9775
Lockheed Martin has hit a huge milestone in F-35 Joint Strike Fighter production. However, that accomplishment, while outstanding, is complicated by the ongoing saga surrounding the development and testing of Tech Refresh-3 (TR-3) hardware configuration. TR-3 underpins the F-35's future capabilities, known collectively as Block 4. Delays with TR-3 mean that F-35s are being parked and not delivered after they are constructed, waiting for these features. So is the case for the 1,000th F-35.
We asked Lockheed Martin about the status of deliveries of F-35s, including the 1,000th example, and they gave us the following statement:
"We continue to produce F-35s at rate and have jets in various stages of the final production process. Once these jets receive the necessary TR-3 hardware and final TR-3 software is available, they will continue through the production process, including parking, until they are delivered."

Regardless, hitting the 1,000 mark is really an incredible accomplishment for the controversial program that has struggled significantly at times.

As of early January, the F-35 enterprise has amassed over 773,000 flying hours, trained over 2,280 pilots and 15,400 maintainers across 14 flying services around the world, and flown more than 469,000 total sorties. There are now 32 bases and 11 ships hosting or capable of hosting F-35 units. As of now, there are a whopping 17 countries participating in the international Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program.

View attachment 9771

Demand for the F-35 has never been higher. Recent geopolitical events and shifting threats have spiked orders. For newer customers or existing ones that are ordering more jets, getting TR-3 jets and potentially Block 4 capabilities will be of significant value. They will be receiving a far more mature aircraft and one with drastically expanded capabilities and growth potential than past versions.

Block 4 will include many new features, including much-expanded processing power, new displays, enhanced cooling, new EOTS and DAS electro-optical sensors, and a slew of additional weapons that will really unlock the F-35's potential. Above all else, the jet's new radar and electronic warfare suite should give it its biggest boost. The electronic warfare aspect alone is the biggest advantage Block 4 will bring, according to the Air Combat Command's top uniformed officer.

The current issue is that F-35s need a new hardware backbone and associated baseline software, collectively called TR-3, to handle the various demands of the Block 4 upgrades. TR-3 has and continues to suffer numerous delays in its development.

The increasing age of the F-35 program's current fleet of test jets and other limitations in existing test infrastructure, especially with regard to software labs on the ground, have compounded these issues. The first flight of an F-35 test jet with a version of the TR-3 backbone took place in January 2023 and efforts are underway to create a dedicated TR-3 test force with a total of six Joint Strike Fighters.

View attachment 9772

As of December, the expectation is that the development of TR-3 will be finished sometime between April and June of this year, according to Defense News. If that schedule holds, this work be done between a year and 18 months later than expected.

The delays have also translated into significant added costs for the F-35 program. At a House Armed Services Committee hearing in December, Representative Donald Norcross, a Democrat from New Jersey, said that problems with TR-3 had led to a $1 billion cost overrun. The full estimated cost of the F-35 program though the end of its expected lifecycle in the 2070s is currently pegged around around $1.7 trillion, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

View attachment 9773

At the House Armed Services Committee hearing last month, Air Force Lt. Gen. Michael Schmidt, the current head of the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO), seemed less than optimistic about the likelihood of there being no further TR-3 delays.

"Relative to the stability issues that were that we're seeing, we are working through them. ... I wish I had all of the solutions in place that prove to me that when I do something in the lab, it's going to show up that way in the air," Schmidt told the assembled legislators. "We have a number of fixes addressing the stability challenges. We will get to a stable, capable, maintainable airplane here."

However, "the data tells me it will be in the middle of spring, but I would have had a more positive answer six months ago ... so I don't have a super solid 'I can guarantee you this date,'" he added.

After the completion of the development of the TR-3 package, these improvements will still need to be integrated into existing jets. The F-35 program is separately pursuing upgrades to the Pratt & Whitney F135 engines that power all variants of the Joint Strike Fighter, as well as power and thermal management systems, which will also be critical for enabling Block 4 capabilities. The issues surrounding the F135 engine have become a very hot topic of debate.



In the meantime, the U.S. military has made clear that it will not accept any new F-35s until the TR-3 issues are ironed out. This is ostensibly because the necessary checkout flights cannot be conducted on the jets until the hardware and its core software work reliably.

So, for at least another few months, the 1,000th F-35, and many others, are set to stay parked away waiting for work on the core TR-3 upgrades to be finished.

The 1,000th F-35 Has Been Built

Delays with a key upgrade program mean Lockheed Martin has yet to deliver the 1,000th F-35 and others to their customers.

www.thedrive.com

How about telling us the rest?

Of the 1000 F-35, how many are flying or actually able to fly if so wished.
How many of that 1000 are grounded, and unable to fly because of faults and cannot be repaired because of lack of parts.

So of that 1000 built, maybe 300 or 400 are able to fly?

Afraid to say?

Needed the help of Whitehouse spin doctor to coach the proper language to use?

 

[Beijingwalker]

How about telling us the rest?

Of the 1000 F-35, how many are flying or actually able to fly if so wished.
How many of that 1000 are grounded, and unable to fly because of faults and cannot be repaired because of lack of parts.

So of that 1000 built, maybe 300 or 400 are able to fly?

Afraid to say?

Needed the help of Whitehouse spin doctor to coach the proper language to use?

South Korean Defense Sources Express Concerns About Unreliable F-35 Fighters

The worries echo a litany of complaints made by U.S. military officials about the fifth-generation fighter.

thediplomat.com

F-35s Struggle To Fly! Frustrated South Korea Says Its US-Origin Stealth Fighters Marred By Defects

South Korea's lawmakers stated that the nation's F-35 A stealth fighter jets were labeled as operationally unready 234 times over 18 month

www.eurasiantimes.com

 

[harpy1]

India really needs to get on board with F35
A 100 of these babies ordered next two years USA wil have them.delivered by 2030
If India is serious about USA and west and bring part of their plans to contain china this order will be needed
It also takes time pressure of Amca which is not coming until 2040
We have huge USA tech in forces now
Engines for Tejas
C17
C130
Apache
USA artlillary
Chinooks
We need the fifth gen tech
India has the Indian clout in senate to pul this off easily
USA are itching to get India on board
Forget this independent foreign policy
Get fully laid by USA

 

[White and Green with M/S]

India really needs to get on board with F35
A 100 of these babies ordered next two years USA wil have them.delivered by 2030
If India is serious about USA and west and bring part of their plans to contain china this order will be needed
It also takes time pressure of Amca which is not coming until 2040
We have huge USA tech in forces now
Engines for Tejas
C17
C130
Apache
USA artlillary
Chinooks
We need the fifth gen tech
India has the Indian clout in senate to pul this off easily
USA are itching to get India on board
Forget this independent foreign policy
Get fully laid by USA

Add P-8I also to your list and F35 will not come after 2030 to India, USA offering F35 to India but its India which reluctant to accept the offer and rightly have so because with F35 there are lots sanctions and strings attached to F35 deals

 

[Yommie]

F-35 is comparable J-10 in size but it's way smaller than J-20 which has 2 engines

 

[White and Green with M/S]

F-35 is comparable J-10 in size but it's way smaller than J-20 which has 2 engines

Don't compare F35 to J10 you're comparing apples to orange

 

[Yommie]

Don't compare F35 to J10 you're comparing apples to orange

Same size class. Multi role fighter.

 

[huanghong]

Same size class. Multi role fighter.

The maximum takeoff weight of the F-35 is more than 30 tons, while the J-10 is only 19 tons. The two planes couldn't be more different.。

 

[Yommie]

The maximum takeoff weight of the F-35 is more than 30 tons, while the J-10 is only 19 tons. The two planes couldn't be more different.。

Nevertheless. Same class. J-10 compared to F-35 sort of like P-51 compared to F4U.

 

[White and Green with M/S]

Same size class. Multi role fighter.

One stealth jet other conventional jet and also wieght (max) is also different

You should compare F35 with J35 these are the right jets to compare

 

[Yommie]

One stealth jet other conventional jet and also wieght (max) is also different

You should compare F35 with J35 these are the right jets to compare

It has some radar reduction features but it does not reduce a lot beyond company promo.