UK confident ahead of F-35B and Queen Elizabeth integration trials

[Zarvan]

An artist's rendering of an F-35B executing a vertical recovery on Queen Elizabeth. Real-world aircraft/ship integration trials are due to begin towards the end of 2018. Source: Aircraft Carrier Alliance

The UK "is in a very good place" as it prepares for the start of carrier trials of its Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) towards the end of next year, the chief of the Royal Air Force (RAF) told Jane's on 28 June.

Speaking days after the Royal Navy's (RN's) Queen Elizabeth (QE) aircraft carrier set sail for its first sea trials, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier said that the work already done by UK and US Marine Corps (USMC) personnel to test the F-35B on the corps' amphibious assault ships has helped to prepare the ground for QE integration trials that are scheduled to begin in late 2018.

"For Queen Elizabeth and F-35B integration, we are clearly in a very good place. The US Marine Corps has been flying its F-35Bs off its own aircraft carriers, with UK pilots and engineers taking part in those trials, so we already have experience of flying F-35Bs off marine corps ships. When you look at the size of our carrier [compared to the USMC's Wasp- and America-class assault ships] it should not be the greatest challenge - I can't see any reason why we will not achieve our plan for flying trials to start at the end of next year," ACM Hillier said.

With the first UK F-35Bs due to arrive on Queen Elizabeth at the end of 2018, initial operating capability for aircraft aboard the carrier is due in 2020. In 2021, the USMC is set to embark a number of its jets aboard the ship, which will further de-risk the programme for the UK. Full operating capability for both the Queen Elizabeth and the UK's F-35B force is set for 2023.

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