F-35s complete training ‘deployment’ for first time

[Hamartia Antidote]

 

[forsigmar]

Trump ought to cancel the program and arrest the Lockheed executives and generals on LMT payroll who green-lighted this garbage.

 

[Haryanajatt]

Why is commenting alone on here

 

[Hindustani78]

PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 14, 2016) Ordnance is prepared for an F-35B Lightning II short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft on the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). This event marked the first live ordnance uploaded to the F-35B at sea. During the third and final F-35B developmental test phase (DT-III), the aircraft is undergoing envelope expansion via a series of launches and recoveries in various operating conditions such as high sea states and high winds. (U.S. Navy Photo/Released)

Ordnance is prepared for an F-35B Lightning II short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft on the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). This event marked the first live ordnance uploaded to the F-35B at sea. During the third and final F-35B developmental test phase (DT-III), the aircraft is undergoing envelope expansion via a series of launches and recoveries in various operating conditions such as high sea states and high winds. (U.S. Navy Photo/Released)

(Nov. 14, 2016) Sailors prepare an F-35B Lightning II short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft prepares for flight operations aboard the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). During the third and final F-35B developmental test phase (DT-III), the aircraft is undergoing envelope expansion via a series of launches and recoveries in various operating conditions such as high sea states and high winds. (U.S. Navy Photo/Released)

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/world...r-jet-costs/story-DAK7nJjg6t4gb9HbHxSiSL.html

President-elect Donald Trump has met with some of the US military’s top brass to discuss ways of reducing costs, particularly for the F-35 stealth fighter program.

Yesterday’s meeting at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida came after Trump last week blasted the F-35’s costs as “out of control” in a message on Twitter.

Several three- and four-star generals and admirals attended the meeting, including the F-35 program chief Lieutenant General Christopher Bogdan.

“Trying to bring costs down,” Trump said when asked what the meeting was about.

“Primarily the F-35, trying to get the costs down. A program that is very, very expensive.”

With a current development and acquisition price tag of USD 379 billion for a total of 2,443 F-35 aircraft -- most of them destined for the Air Force -- the Lockheed Martin-built plane is the most expensive in history, and costs are set to go higher still.

Once servicing, maintenance and other costs for the F-35 are factored in over the aircraft’s lifespan through 2070, overall program costs have been projected to rise to as much as USD 1.5 trillion.

Trump has frequently turned to Twitter to vent his outrage across a range of topics.

On December 6, he blasted Boeing over the possible $4 billion price tag for a replacement Air Force One presidential plane. He also called that project “out of control.”

Trump also met with Lockheed CEO Marillyn Hewson and Boeing chief Dennis Muilenburg.

Asked whether he had secured any concessions from Hewson, Trump said: “We’re just beginning, it’s a dance.”

“But we’re going to get the costs down and we’re going to get it done beautifully.”

Boeing’s Muilenburg told reporters the meeting with Trump went “great” and said Air Force One would be delivered for less than USD 4 billion.

“We’re going to get it done for less than that, and we’re committed to working together to make sure that happens,” Muilenburg said.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1191616/middle-east

DUBAI: The US is in talks to sell F-35 fighter jets to partner nations, a senior US military official said on Friday during a visit to the UAE, without giving details.

US Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Stephen Wilson was responding to a reporter’s question about the possibility of selling advanced jets to the UAE. “Specifically with the F-35s, we look at all of our partners and nations and allies and their requirements and here in the Gulf they share many of the same adversaries and challenges,” Wilson said.

“So we look to provide capabilities. So the discussion is ongoing now with the new administration on selling F-35s to partner nations that need them, that require them.”

He added, “They’ve started the process. Now with that, you need discussion bilaterally between nations ... so further things on that will have to come from the UAE.”

The F-35 is made by Lockheed Martin Corp, with companies including Northrop Grumman Corp, United Technologies Corp’s Pratt & Whitney and BAE Systems Plc also involve

 

[Gomig-21]

Looks like the tire on the rear left gear went flat on that hard landing @2:32. Pretty wild.

Compared to the super smooth landings @4:06 & 4:16.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/intern...653-billion/article22478493.ece?homepage=true

WASHINGTON:, January 20, 2018 10:45 IST
Updated: January 20, 2018 10:50 IST

The F-35 Lightning II, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), is shown in this March 2010 photograph. (FILE) | Photo Credit: REUTERS


The sale is said to provide Brussels with “a credible defence capability to deter aggression in the region and ensure interoperability with US forces.”

The United States State Department has approved a sale of 34 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Conventional Take-off and Landing (CTOL) aircraft to Belgium, the Pentagon said.

According to a statement on Friday, published by the Defence Security Cooperation Agency under the US Department of Defence, the agency notified Congress of the sale for an estimated $6.53 billion, Xinhua news agency reported.

Radar-evading high-tech fighter
The sale would also include 38 Pratt & Whitney F-135 engines — 34 installed ones and four spares — as well as other equipment for the radar-evading high-tech fighter.

The sale will “improve the security of an ally and partner nation which has been, and continues to be, an important force for political and economic stability in Western Europe,” the statement read.

The sale of F-35s is expected to provide Belgium with “a credible defence capability to deter aggression in the region and ensure interoperability with US forces,” said the agency.

The governments of Finland, Germany, Switzerland, Spain and others are also potential customers of the jet.