TomcatViPTomcatViPSeen here : https://breakingdefense.com/2018/11/dod-acquisition-chief-presses-for-more-f-35s-in-the-air/
capable rate for this F-35 deployment (to the U.K., Estonia and Bulgaria) was 87.5 percent,” Col. David Lyons, the 388th Fighter Wing commander, told reporters. “And my current rate for my F-16s that are doing great work in Spain is 75 percent.”
[…]
The F-35s per flight hour operating costs have already fallen and are edging closer to those of of F-16, according to Air Force officials. At the Farnborough Air Show in July, Lockheed Martin executives said they believe they can reduce operation and maintenance costs by 38 percent over the next decade.
TomcatViPI wonder how an H145M with the so called “H-Force” pack can be in the same competition as an AH-64E… Something doesn’t match. It would be just like a Cessna Caravan competing against an A330…
TomcatViP[USER=”4698″]bring_it_on[/USER] :
Japan will likely need to build up capacity given where China is likely to be in the 2030+ time-frame so there will be plenty of demand for F-3’s in the 2030+ time-frame as long as they can get an F-3 at a reasonable cost to develop.
I pretty much think so. This is very encouraging for the F-3 as it leaves immediate operational needs out of the loop what gives more time for R&D (less cost) and open opportunities for a partnership with resetting the schedule to make it compatible with other nations (except South Korea, sadly).
We can now see realistic similarities b/w the Japan project and German needs or even the situation in the UK (understanding that Germany will order F-35s to replace their Tornadoes). Same delay, same mission etc…
So indeed, this is quite a good news for the F-3: devoid of any urgency (like the awkward re-launching of the F-22), this project will have plenty of space to mature on an efficient way.
Last but not least, I see more the upgraded meteor fielded for their upgraded F-15J.
TomcatViP[USER=”15685″]Sintra[/USER] 😀
Also (as posted in the dedicated thread):
Japan to order 100 more F-35 fighters from US
The 42 fighters Japan originally planned to buy are all F-35As, a conventional takeoff and landing variant. The additional 100 planes would include both the F-35A and F-35B, which is capable of short takeoffs and vertical landings.
Source:
Asia Nikkei.com
TomcatViP‘Spend the minimum’: How Lion Air hid equipment failures and beat regulators
However, an investigation by The New York Times claimed that Lion Air was so obsessed with growth that it failed to build a proper safety culture.
Government safety investigators told the TImes the company’s political ties allowed it to circumvent their recommendations and to play down instances that would cause alarm elsewhere.
Former employees told the paper the airline became adept at passing malfunctioning equipment from plane to plane rather than fixing problems.
TomcatViP1.25 and 20kW (see at 0:12s)
TomcatViP[B-21] is sort of the USAF’s own FCAS so to speak.
I am not sure if this is quite relevant, even, in the context of the paragraph (connected with 5th gen assets). FCAS is a maneuvering system built on platforms operating on a dynamic situation at the tactical level that will be always compromised de facto by this mission.
B-21 is an intercontinental bomber built to be the VLO platform of the 6th generation. It can’t be a FCAS and the latter can’t reach per definition what the Raider will be. They are totally segregated in term of service expectations and performances.
TomcatViPAnd here we are, Lion Air statement confirms that:
The Lion Air pilots whose plane nosedived into the Java Sea in October, killing all those aboard, were battling multiple malfunctions almost as soon as the doomed flight began, according to a trove of new data released by Indonesian investigators.
They faced a cacophony of warnings that started seconds after takeoff and continued for the remaining 11 minutes before the crash.
The alerts included a so-called stick shaker — a loud device that makes a thumping noise and vibrates the control column to warn pilots they’re in danger of losing lift on the wings — and instruments that registered different readings for the captain and copilot, according to data presented to a panel of lawmakers in Jakarta Thursday.
The data also showed that in the final seconds, as they struggled to pull the Boeing Co. 737 Max 8 out of a dive that was being commanded by the plane’s flight computers, the pilots were pulling back on the control column with a force of as much as 100 pounds of pressure.
However, the data indicated that the plane was controllable — the pilots had kept it under control for about 10 minutes before the final plunge — and records from the previous flight of the same jet showed another set of pilots had an identical set of failures and landed safely.
So, once again,
– what the hell were they thinking to not bring back the plane immediately?
– How could they not read the checklist to disengage the MCA (they only needed to press two buttons)?
– What is this system that left un-monitored in the wild two pilots that reported facing serious difficulties when a simple reading at such trivial thing as the ADS-B data would have tell anyone inside Lion Air that something bad was happening – that help was needed?!
And last but not least, think at the chaos in the main cabin. Imagine the screams, the panic and the frightened passengers right after take-off devoid of any voices… now muted by meeting death on such a stupid occurrence. Engines were running fine, ctrls were properly actuating, weather was clement, plenty of fuel in the tanks, no fire, perfect navigation was possible… Is the service you pay airlines now solely reduced to be transported by ANY MEANS from point A to B*?
Shame.
Source:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic…efore-crashing
*Someone need to patent this brand for air transportation: S*** your ******* mouth Airways
TomcatViPNot solely related to aviation and UCAS but….
Kratos Receives $29 Million Directed Energy Systems Contract
Kratos Defense & Rocket Support Services (KDRSS) Division has been awarded a $29 million contract to develop prototype technologies, components and subsystems for the enhancement of existing or new Directed Energy (DE) systems. The effort will extend DE system capabilities of Counter Rocket, Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM), Counter Unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS), and/or Counter Intel, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (C-ISR) missions for the US Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command (USA SMDC/ARSTRAT). The specific technologies include beam control, high energy lasers, adaptive optics, power, thermal, sensors, illuminators, joint fires, fire support, and target tracking. These prototype projects are directly relevant to enhancing mission effectiveness of military personnel and the supporting platforms, systems, components, or materials proposed to be acquired or developed by the Army. Work under this contract is anticipated to be performed at Kratos facilities and at government locations in Huntsville, AL.
Dave Carter, President of the Kratos’ Defense & Rocket Support Services (KDRSS) Division, said, “This recent contract award is another important milestone in our commitment to continue providing superior advanced technology engineering support. This aligns with our strategic plan to expand support to the U.S. Army in advancing and developing Directed Energy Technologies. We are very pleased the U.S. Army is allowing us to serve them in this capacity.”
Source:
GlobalNewswire.com
TomcatViPGermany sees next step on fighter jet replacement by end of year
“There will be a decision this year,” a ministry spokesman said, citing a pledge in July by Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen to move ahead with the program in 2018. The spokesman gave no further details.
Sources familiar with the process said the ministry was likely to narrow the field of potential replacement jets from four to two — the Eurofighter Typhoon built by Airbus, Britain’s BAE Systems and Italy’s Leonardo SpA and most likely, the Lockheed Martin F-35.
[…]
Lockheed last week won a U.S. contract valued at up to $83.1 million to develop, integrate and test the needed software and hardware required for the F-35A to carry B61-12 nuclear bombs, with the work to be completed in February 2024.
Sources familiar with the process said that would allow Lockheed to offer Germany deliveries of F-35 aircraft a year or more ahead of the 2025 target, enabling pilots to begin a year or two of required training at a U.S. air base in Arizona.
Source:
Reuters.com
TomcatViPOnce again, I doubt that the RCS targets are the same. The 6th gen ambitions on the US side are solids and probably restrictive to the point of not allowing any “protruding […] surfaces”.
This is where the lack of verticals on the Franco-German design could backlash on those that made such choice à la légère*.
*lightly
TomcatViPPiaggio Aerospace goes into receivership
Piaggio Aerospace has requested to be placed into receivership after declaring itself insolvent.[…]
Piaggio is the developer of the P1HH HammerHead unmanned air vehicle and the P180 Avanti. Deliveries of the iconic twin-pusher – which emerged in the late 1980s and is now in its third iteration, the Evo – have fallen from their market peak of 30 aircraft in 2008 to just three in the nine months ending 30 September this year. One more example is scheduled for delivery during the fourth quarter.
Sad news.
Source:
FlightGlobal.com
TomcatViPamazing that they have the starboard sliding door opening forward. It leaves a huge volume devoid of any windows or other openings behind the pilots and restricts its size.
TomcatViPSorry if I misunderstood you but flyaway cost does include the engine. Latest F-35A order put the cost downto 89M$:
With engine and other incidental costs factored in, flyaway costs were a bit higher. Lockheed’s F-35B variant flyaway cost $115.5 million, its F-35C cost $107.7 million, and the F-35A ended up at $89 million.
https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/…der-worth.aspx
Otherwise, Israel remains committed to 3 squadrons of 35:
Ynet [- the news website -] said there was initially US opposition to Israel’s acquisition of the F-15IA if it resulted in a reduction of Israel’s F-35 order. It cited a document approved by Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman shortly before he resigned on 14 November as saying that the IAF still intends to field three F-35 squadrons, each with 25 aircraft.
Source (from Tango III in the news section):
https://www.janes.com/article/84771/…d-f-15s-as-yet
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