Home » Air » F-35 Crushes Goals For Early 2011 Test Flights

F-35 Crushes Goals For Early 2011 Test Flights

By John Reed Monday, April 4th, 2011 5:02 pm
Posted in Air, International

It looks like the first quarter of 2011 was a good one for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter test program, with the plane logging 57 more test flights than the planned 142, even in the face of a fleet-wide grounding last month, according to Lockheed officials.

Interestingly, it was the Air Force’s F-35A conventional variant and the Marine Corps’ F-35B short take-off and vertical landing variant that did much of the heavy lifting in achieving the 199 test flights last quarter.

The F-35As flew 82 times against a plan of 62 flights while the F-35Bs flew 101 flights against a plan of 62 sorties. Heck, the embattled Bravo performed 61 vertical landings last quarter. Compare that to the 10 vertical landings it performed in all of 2010!

Meanwhile, the Navy’s F-35C carrier variant racked up only 16 out of 18 planned flights for the quarter, according to Lockheed. No information was provided as to why the Cs missed their targets.

Two production model F-35As also took to the skies for a total of seven flights in 2011.

All told, the F-35 now has 753 flights under its belt since 2006, according to Lockheed.

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	GBA April 4th, 2011 at 6:41 pm Thats great! But the question remains, what will the final cost be and can the on size fits all approach to aircraft design be effective in battle? I have my doubts.…
	GBA April 4th, 2011 at 6:41 pm *one size fits all
	Gregory Savage April 4th, 2011 at 6:42 pm Not to shabby imho, especially if you look at similar programs of merit. Glad to see it get on/closer to track.
	RunningBear April 4th, 2011 at 8:17 pm Hey, The Bee made it’s first Pogo; VL touch and go! Wow, I’m lookin’ forward to seein’ that!!
	guest April 4th, 2011 at 9:25 pm Outstanding !!!! — Way to go P&W and all involved. Take that little barry obama and airpower clueless gates.
	Gregory Savage April 4th, 2011 at 9:33 pm But Obama and Gates approved this plane. Your comment um your comment has little relevance to the situation, its actually the opposite.
	Byron Skinner April 4th, 2011 at 9:40 pm Good Evening Folks, All fine and dandy, but the USAF and USN just got their bu**s kicked by Gadhafi. They are gone France is in charge and Gadhafi is still their. If the 1,300 + Admirals and Generals of our military could spend some time war planning and executing a successful war plan instead of going to congress with tin cup in had and learn how to WIN a war the country might be better off. ALLONS, Byron Skinner
	@E_L_P April 4th, 2011 at 10:16 pm All well and good as far as happy press releases go. Still a lot of test work to do. And being ahead of schedule doesn’t mean much if the schedule is an ever sliding-to-the-right appliance with CAIV and software block definitions being watered down since 2006. For instance; here is the number of test flights that should have been done as per a “schedule” 4 years ago. http://ericpalmer.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/fli…
	pfcem April 4th, 2011 at 10:22 pm In other words, the program is not & never was in as bad a shape as the ‘projections’ which resulted in such a delayed schedule.
	James April 4th, 2011 at 10:28 pm Leave it to bs Byron to blame the military rather than his boy little Barry Obama for the cluster F in Libya.
	James April 4th, 2011 at 10:29 pm What again is the US national interest in Libya byron?
	bigRick April 5th, 2011 at 12:11 am oh boy did you hit a raw nerve Byron. I couldn’t agree with you more. Our current leadership has been raised in the school of political correctness and they’ve all received advanced degrees in “covering their ass.” We haven’t had any real warriors in charge for a long time-it’s pretty sad. Since I’m an old Navy guy I’m especially disappointed at what my Navy has become-a feel good happy romper room.
	@E_L_P April 5th, 2011 at 12:31 am Really? If you go by the 2007 schdule, todays total program test flights are at the point of being 300 some test flights into the then FY2010 year that was supposed to have 1243. Where then the plan was 27-FY2007, 97-FY2008, 317-FY2009. In other words the program test fight timeline is about a quarter of the way through the then FY2010 plan. Also to that 2007 plan, FY2011 was supposed to be the programs biggest year with 1425 test flights.
	FA-XX2020 April 5th, 2011 at 12:49 am We got our butts kicked? A single F-15E was lost due to mechanical failure and the crew bailed out and was extracted by a joint effort.nd USMC. Meanwhile what is left of Libya’s air force is grounded and most of their SAMs are burning. In other words we acheived what we wanted to in this rather pointless operation. The men and women serving deserve our thanks. Yet the politicians who wasted all of this money and a good F-15E deserve criticism for getting us involved in a fight that isn’t our own. If the objective was to drop a LGB in Gadaffi’s lap, that would have been done, but that isn’t the case.
	Curt April 5th, 2011 at 2:53 am I guess Byron doesn’t understand the concept of Civilian control of the Military. Maybe he is advocating a coupe so that the military can plan a war without civilian intervention and political consideration?
	Guest April 5th, 2011 at 2:53 am pfcem went one of those schools where they gave all the children prizes even the ones that came last. “progress” is just when the DoD can stop lowering expectations. And we aren’t even at that yet.
	Guest April 5th, 2011 at 3:10 am Most of the world news is full of videos Typhoons and Rafales in action, the air-force looks like it’s been relegated to the baggage train. Our military is optimized for contractor profits, winning wars isn’t a big requirement.
	STemplar April 5th, 2011 at 3:54 am How much? That’s the only question that matters. Not how long or when, just how much. If they can bring these things in under $100 million per in full production we’re probably ok, if not, ehh
	Firefox April 5th, 2011 at 4:00 am What exactly is a the word for being ahead of couple times delayed schedule? Delance, adlay? There must be some cool military acronyme for it.
	Guest April 5th, 2011 at 7:16 am I have a front row seat where I work. It’s pretty awesome-and LOUD…
	Thomas April 5th, 2011 at 7:53 am What about the software development?
	BOOMER April 5th, 2011 at 8:01 am Did you have a bad day or what? While I’ll be the first to agree that our senior officers are a bunch of spineless congressional and or contractor lap dogs, our guys did and still are doing what they were tasked to do in order to protect the brit and french planes from attack and we are still there doing it. The US actualy flew more missions and took out more targets than anyone there, just gave more media attention to our allies for obvious reasons, and a US Navy admiral is in charge of the NATO op (not to mention there is no NATO or UN without the US backing and funding). Blame truely falls on the administration for involving us in Lybia with no clear plan or reason. He and hillary can hardly call it a humanitarian effort when we are not (and should not just as we shouldnt had here) doing anything to stop all the killing of civilians in Yeman,Syria or Bahrain by thier governments.
	William C. April 5th, 2011 at 8:42 am So because we are behind old schedules we should scrap the whole thing? I love the F-22, but look how late that was.
	Weaponhead April 5th, 2011 at 9:57 am Yes, “crusheds goals”. This is the equivalent of hitting a 500 ft home run after striking out 100 consecutive times. The plane is still never going to meet it’s cost targets, will be too expensive to maintain, won’t be good enough for top tier anti-access environments and will likely struggle to hold any advantage in air superiority role against the threats that are also in flight test.
	momomimamo April 5th, 2011 at 11:09 am engine failure was include?
	BreakTheCycle April 5th, 2011 at 11:53 am Interesting choice of catchy title. Is DoDBuzz becoming another JSF cheerleader?
	freefallingbomb April 5th, 2011 at 12:55 pm “Changing threats” for cancelled U.S. bombers, “R&D” for mistake jets, “commercial specs” for coastal warships (L.C.S.), “mission creep” for futuristic land vehicles, etc., etc. … Yanks make up great sounding excuses for every drawn-out blunder. Nixon: “Peace with honour”.
	freefallingbomb April 5th, 2011 at 12:57 pm “D.o.D. Buzz” = System.
	KPl, April 5th, 2011 at 1:56 pm If the F-35 sails through the following 36 months of flight tests and hits it’s IOC of 2018 with no further technical problems whatsoever, it will _still be_ a fighter designed to beat a 1991 ODS spec (essentially an F-117 with JDAM and through-weather radar targeting) rather than one which is competent to fight the wars of the 21st century. We need to be thinking about intercontinental reach in under 30 minutes and 15hr on-station times at 1,200–1,500nm radii. One requires hypersonics technology at 200K feet which is utterly beyond the ability of ANY manned ‘fighter’ to realistically intercept. The other requires robots so that we can actually fly the missions we need to, in the operational sortie densities we need to. And forget about 40% O&S training costs during peacetime.
	KPl. April 5th, 2011 at 1:58 pm We need to acknowledge the coming dominance of the EML, HPM, laser and the hunting/turbo missile. And we need to think about airpower that is as expendable as the infantryman. Which is to say, someone who carries a hundred thousand dollar head bounty as ‘life insurance’ on his bullseye painted chest and has 12,-20,000 dollars per year in salary and 40,000 dollars in training investment atop that. And can still be killed in an instant by a pepsi can IED or a sniper with a 4th grade education. Because that is the threat that the aircraft will face by 2020. And just like the infantry man standing up from his WWI trench to go charging across no man’s land, there will be _no where to hide_. The JSF is _never_ going to be less than 100 million, my personal bet is around 127–142, depending on how soon our economy collapses and how quickly foreign partners run away from that fact. Given it was _promised_ (by then SecAF LaRoche) on October 26, 2001, to be a 48–50 million dollar platform it is already at 200% of Nunn McCurdy and should be cancelled outright on that basis alone.
	KPl. April 5th, 2011 at 1:58 pm Lockheed is producing another F-104 people. A platform destined for mediocrity from the get go. No completely obsolete because it FAILS the one thing that it should have been designed around from the start: commonality. Not ‘Joint’ (three planes, one name) but a single platform that allowed all the nominal air forces of this nation to deploy and fight from a common basing mode. JSF is nothing less than a blatant attempt to retain three private air forces for the nation which needs only one as a function of this basing mode disparity. It will end up destroying us because we do not need 1,763 CTOL models. We cannot afford 30 CVTOL models per carrier and detachments of 8 STOVL models on gator freighters already burdened with the huge and unwieldy MV-22 and CH-53K is nothing less than laughable as a mission capability.
	William C. April 5th, 2011 at 2:17 pm I didn’t release VLO stealth, sensor fusion, F-16 or F/A-18 level agility, and advanced EW capabilities were horribly obsolete. Combining USN aviation and the USAF would be pointless. We do need 1,500+ F-35As, we can afford 30 F-35Cs per carrier and considering our LHDs currently have 8 or so Harriers on them already, there is room for the F-35B. We aren’t buying all of these tomorrow, this will be across a decade. Otherwise find an alternative to all of these that offers equal or superior stealth, pricing, sensors, range, and payload. I would love to see such a thing but it doesn’t exist I’m afraid.
	William C. April 5th, 2011 at 2:21 pm Good look creating a hypersonic stealth fighter for $60 million a piece.
	William C. April 5th, 2011 at 2:21 pm *luck
	freefallingbomb April 5th, 2011 at 2:34 pm It may be ready to fly before the F-$$ tests are 50 % completed.
	Formula April 5th, 2011 at 2:54 pm I think the point here is, Dod Buzz is headlining what a success the F35 program had in its first quarter of 2011. All too often we read the flowery headlines and forget what has transpired with this porgram over the last 5 years. Billions of dollars over budget, behind on flight test objectives and the current powerplant is billions over budget and lacks the required power to operate in every part of the flight envelope. This program still has a very long way to go before any of us can get excited. More importantly, how much of this hardware, software and technology will be late to need once the F35 is IOC?????
	Mike April 5th, 2011 at 2:57 pm The F-35 Lightning II essentially ready for production and the only reason that it’s not is because the Obama Administration wants to cancel the program like the F-22 Raptor, the Obama Administration wants to hold back until the UCAV is ready and then cut as many F-35 purchases as possible. The head of the US Marines was going nuts as he went to the airbase and saw the F-35B make vertical landings day in and day out.
	Guest April 5th, 2011 at 2:59 pm F-35 has like, 95–98% commonality of parts and software between the 3 variants.
	Guest April 5th, 2011 at 3:06 pm How is it any more dangerous to the pilot than the F-22, or any other aircraft, was when it was in in T&E? And why are you comparing two planes with completely different missions? That’s like comparing a sports car to a pickup truck…
	Guest April 5th, 2011 at 3:16 pm The 117 had an “F” designation and how many A2A kills does it have? How many bombs did it carry? I remember first hearing about the F-22 when I was 12 and I was 27 when it finally entered service, made by the same people that are making the F-35.
	Guest April 5th, 2011 at 3:37 pm In April 2006, the cost of the F-22 was assessed by the Government Accountability Office to be $361 million per aircraft. This cost reflects the F-22 total program cost, divided by the number of fighters the Air Force is programmed to buy; and which has so far invested $28 billion in the Raptor’s research, development and testing. The Unit Procurement Cost was estimated at $177.6 million in 2006 based on a production run of 181 airframes.[26][27] By the time all 183 fighters have been purchased, $34 billion will have been spent on actual procurement, resulting in a total program cost of $62 billion or about $339 million per aircraft. The incremental cost for one additional F-22 is around $138 million On 31 July 2007, Lockheed Martin received a multi-year contract for 60 F-22s worth a total of US$7.3 billion.[29][30] The contract brought the number of F-22s on order to 183 and extended production through 2011.[29] Restarting production after production is shut down would greatly increase costs; building 75 more would cost an estimated $70 million extra per unit. From Wikipedia
	Guest April 5th, 2011 at 3:51 pm The F-22 was in trouble way before the current admin was in office.
	Weaponhead April 5th, 2011 at 5:14 pm 753 flights out of 5000+ needed. There is a long long way to go. “Ready for production” — normally you complete the 5000 flights and OPEVAL to ensure you are building the right airplane BEFORE you start building hundreds of “production” aircraft. Why? Because you may have to throw away the ones built before you fully tested the aircraft since it may end up costing less to buy new ones than to try to fix the mistakes. Furtunately the idiotic idea of IOC in 2012 for the USMC is now looking like 2018. At least it should have a few test flights be then. Maybe even 1 weapon integrated ?
	MrPither April 5th, 2011 at 5:59 pm Thanks to our B-2s going in first and taking care of a large chunk of the threat to our allies aircraft so they can make nice videos. You are welcome…
	interial April 5th, 2011 at 6:28 pm http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Arti… “the Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated that a larger order of 70 additional aircraft [F-22] could have brought that number [price] down to $70 million a pop.”
	Barry April 5th, 2011 at 6:31 pm James, I bet you get all your news from Fox.
	Barry April 5th, 2011 at 6:36 pm What are you, stupid? Can’t you even think of one? There’s a whole list. In no necessary order of importance: promote and defend democracy; protect the democratic movements in neighboring Tunisia and Egypt; prevent an humanitarian disaster; prevent massive tribal warfare; prevent Libya from becoming a failed state that can harbor international terrorists, etc., etc.
	Barry April 5th, 2011 at 6:39 pm The US military doesn’t need PR. The French need PR.
	Barry April 5th, 2011 at 6:41 pm I’d take you more seriously if you learned how to write in English. Or at least use a grammar and spell-check.
	Barry April 5th, 2011 at 6:43 pm Certainly not a pogrom.
	Barry April 5th, 2011 at 6:44 pm You are very silly.
	Barry April 5th, 2011 at 6:53 pm Bla bla bla, and the check is in the mail and I’ll love you in the morning. I think they’re taking a little too long with that airplane. And it’s like a bunch of little kids are making it, and fudging with all sorts of excuses, padding the bill as Congresses come and go, and officers come and go, and the program goes on. Plus, it’s like a gadget. Like a Swiss Army knife, conceptually neat for a couple of seconds, until the brain kicks in and starts asking questions and taking numbers. Tries to do a couple of things, but is good at none of them. It looks tinny. Over-designed. Fragile. Can it get anywhere without refueling? Refuelers aren’t very stealthy, are they? And don’t tell me they’re stealthy because by the time the F-35 is ready we won’t have any more refuelers because they will have rusted to bits and the new ones won’t be ready in number for decades. And, come on! The VSTOL version is just as much an outdated gadget as the EFV. Don’t let those Marines try to make important decisions. They’re all suffering skull concussions. Just buy new upgraded F-15’s, 16’s and 18’s and start with a clean slate.
	MrC April 5th, 2011 at 7:57 pm Byron Skinner needs to be laughed off of this blog. He has gone way past the point of sensibly questioning the decision to spend billions on an overpowered military, and is now just bashing the Air Force and making ridiculous statements. Really, the USAF got beaten by Gadhafi? Is that why the Libyan air defenses were wiped out in a week? Is that why Gadhafi’s sons offered a deal where he would be removed from office?
	bobbymike April 5th, 2011 at 9:03 pm Interesting quote I read about the sensor package of the F-35. Apparently is took a “picture” using its multi-spectral sensor package of a parking lot from “a long way away” (meaning the distance was classified) while overflying a national park. The picture was so detailed you could see heat shadows where cars used to be and the Sun glinting off a broom handle of a guy sweeping the parking lot. Has there been issues absolutely. Has the military ever fielded three concurrent aircraft for three services EVER, nope. During the early days of SDI critics used to say that a fully integrated layered missile defense system would have “a million lines of computer code” and be so complex that it would never work. Each F-35 will have over 20 million lines of computer code and that is before additional software upgrades. The complexity of this weapon system is mind boggling. Yes we can argue whether that complexity is needed but man it is impressive.
	anon April 5th, 2011 at 10:32 pm You are very silly.
	Allen James April 6th, 2011 at 9:02 am JSF is a worthless, in fact a completely worthless Platform. Stealth is Dead thinks to the New Russian SAM IADS. JSF should be scraped immediately. Since 1999 when we lost our first F-117 on foreign soil during the Yugoslavia Campaign, most countries have exploited the stealth technology. In fact the F-117 was retired from Active Service in 2008. They are now sitting at Davis-Monthan AFB in the “Bone-Yard”. Instead of scraping Stealth Technology the DoD continued on beating a dead horse while listening to Lockheed Marin as well as all the Retired AF Generals that worked this project, then of course went to work for Lockheed to influence the outcome and funding.
	Allen James April 6th, 2011 at 9:02 am We are now stuck with a useless overpriced platform that was designed in the closet with NO Connectivity in the Battlespace, NO internal Air-Air “Gun” Weapon for Close Combat, NO capability to destroy any major target without integrating “Pylons” due to a non-existent “Internal Weapons Bay” (of course this makes the aircraft really non-stealth hanging pylons), NO connectivity to any legacy platform including F-22, NO Engine Inlet protection for RCS, Of course AFTER Burner or Augmenter section for Inferred Detection…. Hummmmmm!!! Let’s continue to purchase these worthless overpriced platforms to keep Lockheed Martin in existence at a whopping $150,000,000.00 + Each!!!
	Allen James April 6th, 2011 at 9:03 am This Program Needs to be cancelled immediately and the funds utilized to benefit the Warfighter. Continue the effort to Upgrading the Connectivity we need in the Battlespace. For the Price we pay for this one useless none-conductive platform we could build Global Hawk, F-16, F-18, F-15 with a Large Warhead as a one-time use platform and never run out of direct fire weapons. I understand the people in Texas need Jobs and the President needs votes, but this platform is useless…. Our allies know the limitation and numerous countries are now purchasing other platforms to help in critical situations when we must drive in. We are wasting time here….
	William C. April 6th, 2011 at 9:05 am How is buying non-stealthy 4th generation airframes instead of new 5th generation designs starting with a clean slate? The fact that the F-35 looks “tiny” and “fragile” to you doesn’t matter when these old alternatives are much more likely to get detected and fire upon.
	freefallingbomb April 6th, 2011 at 11:59 am Not the F-22’s fault. However the F-$$ deserves to be in trouble… but unfortunately isn’t.
	freefallingbomb April 6th, 2011 at 12:23 pm To the poster “WC” (no pun intended) You wrote: “How is buying non-stealthy 4th generation airframes instead of new 5th generation designs starting with a clean slate?” HA ! I want to see your dumbstruck face when the first 6th-generation fighters roll out of some Siberian factory… totally UNstealthy!!! Just imagine a crossbreed between… the Russian MiG-31 and their Su-35 ! What better warplane could anybody (and I really mean ANYBODY = including ALL heavy-weights in this Comment section) POSSIBLY dream of ?? Another 30-tons “V.T.O.L.” bird (“for the Marines”…) ?! Will happen: In less than 10 years = even before your honey-bunny F-$$ is fully tested.
	William C. April 6th, 2011 at 12:37 pm “A cross between the MiG-31 and Su-35, what better warplane could anybody possibly dream of?“ I’d rather take the F/A-XX if we are discussing 6th generation fighters that only exist on paper. That would be downright superior to some MiG-Sukhoi hybrid.
	freefallingbomb April 6th, 2011 at 12:38 pm To the poster “bobbymike” You boasted: “During the early days of SDI critics used to say that a fully integrated layered missile defense system would have “a million lines of computer code” and be so complex that it would never work. Each F-35 will have over 20 million lines of computer code and that is before additional software upgrades. The complexity of this weapon system is mind boggling. Yes we can argue whether that complexity is needed but man it is impressive.” Uhh… no offense, but who cares? I’m totally unimpressed. How sophisticated does a SAM have to be to detect and to shoot down F-$$s? Another SA-2 in the hands of a Serbian baker?
	freefallingbomb April 6th, 2011 at 12:54 pm Something tells me that if Lockheed Martin gets to build any future U.S. American fighter plane again, you lost miserably even before the race. (You CAN ONLY lose then — or do you think that these guys ever learn?) Pray hard, or make a bet instead! Sometimes I think I know your M.I.C. even better than you do…
	Guest April 6th, 2011 at 1:05 pm Ok, you wrote: “The F-22 is superior to the F-$$ , too, in all aspects.” So yes you did.… I don’t see your point of science and economics of their production in this either. That’s pretty much been the same SOP for every aircraft that’s been in the inventory since WW2 hasn’t it?
	Guest April 6th, 2011 at 1:07 pm You also wrote: “Better late than NEVER !” talk about Baaad arguments…I’m just saying.
	Guest April 6th, 2011 at 1:23 pm Didn’t say it was.
	Guest April 6th, 2011 at 1:31 pm You do realize that the 22 and 35 are made by the same company and by some of the same designers and engineers right?
	freefallingbomb April 6th, 2011 at 1:58 pm So was Windows XP and Windows Vista: Means nothing, absolutely nothing! Two consecutive Vista operating systems and Windows itself would have become irrelevant in the I.T. World. At least this patently demonstrates the power of private customers, but where is the power of the U.S. Airforce to tell Lockheed Martin to stuff a F-$$ up theirs? Nothing can possibly excuse the construction and acquisition of every individual, additional F-$$ . Every new F-$$ means repeating the same mistake all over again!
	freefallingbomb April 6th, 2011 at 2:34 pm To the poster William C. ——————————– You wrote: “What does a F-117A being lost in 1999 have to do with anything?” Alright, try to attack (retired) Colonel Zoltán Dani’s bakery with a stealthy F-22 or B-2, then you’ll see what. ——————————– You wrote: “Nobody is operating under the assumption that stealth is invulnerable.” Sure? Then how else do the U.S. Armed Forces justify the enormous trade-off in maneuverability for all its present and future, zillionaire, stealthy fighters, bombers — and now even ships??? And doesn’t it disquiet you even slightly that NO other Armed Forces on Earth order all their branches to apply this new concept so wholeheartedly, only the U.S. Armed Forces do? (Maybe we’re all obtuse or something…?)
	Hitch Hiker April 6th, 2011 at 7:27 pm “according to Lockheed.” That says it all.
	pfcem April 6th, 2011 at 8:00 pm Yes really. I never said that the program is now on 2007 schedule nor that there should never have been any schedule changes. But CLEARLY it is well ahead of current schedule & gaining momentum. Also keep in mind that even the CURRENT schedule is accelerated from the post 2007 schedule change…
	pfcem April 6th, 2011 at 8:01 pm Quite the opposite.
	pfcem April 6th, 2011 at 8:08 pm The F-117 designation (BOTH the “F” & the “117”) is/was a trick to fool the Russians
	pfcem April 6th, 2011 at 8:13 pm You are the one with the problem, not me. A more significant examination of the history of the JSF program clearly demonstrates what the causes to the program’s troubles have been AND how they have never been as bad as the naysayers have claimed.
	pfcem April 6th, 2011 at 8:16 pm Read the 1st paragraph…
	pfcem April 6th, 2011 at 8:17 pm Pathetic how naysayers call reporting reality as cheerleading.
	pfcem April 6th, 2011 at 8:20 pm You clearly have no clue what you are talking about. The F-35 is NOT (has never been nor should ever have been) a medium bomber. Yes the USAF need a new medium bomber but it ALSO needs to replace its F-16s, F/A-18s * AV-8Bs.
	pfcem April 6th, 2011 at 8:28 pm NOBODY is forgetting what has transpired with this porgram over the last 5 years. However, most/all naysayers are (either through simple ignorance or deliberate disingenuousness) forgetting/ignoring delays/budget overruns on most ALL programs in recent history.
	pfcem April 6th, 2011 at 8:31 pm So where is your proof otherwise…
	BMiller April 7th, 2011 at 12:15 am They can complete the flights necessary while kicking Kadofi’s butt; fighting over there is like a test flight; there aare no real threats there and we could use the help. You are on the money callilng the Obuma administration holding back; the Pres is an embarrassment to this nation; while he’s calling the shots it costs considerable money to require bloated testing we have always and with good reason put them in action as soon as the test pilots become comfortable flying them. The whole mess is smoke and mirrors; testing appears to be the reason for the cost overruns. I keep hearing the cost of the F35 to be over $200M, most of the increase costs are the Syberonics seen as a must to meet todays visionary needs and the futures where we want to be’s. They say we can’t use them because we can’t communicate with all the technical communication equipement in the theatre; it takes a couple hour’s to rig any need; its all noise and anyone involved would know it. Even the new second engine is doing well and is ready to put it in, all we need is the go ahead. l
	BMiller April 7th, 2011 at 12:28 am Our real issue is we can think up better platforms than we can build them, we need to settle on a vision and bring it to fruition. All the rehashing of what is on the table and in the factories and be done with it. The bigger, the better, the neat stuff is not only costly but nobody has anything like what we build or the defenses against what we build doesn’t exilst.
	Guest April 7th, 2011 at 5:28 am >Our real issue is we can think up better platforms than we can build them You make it sound like they are a bunch of 7 yros who don’t know what they are doing The reality is not mistakes or wishful thinking, it’s deliberate systematic corruption. The contractors know full well that they are doing — they are screwing the American people and our security as hard as they can. They are selling the nation down the river with absolutely no remorse.
	Stuart Scott April 7th, 2011 at 11:15 am I love critics; you are like a bunch of monkeys throwing their own feces!
	Brian April 7th, 2011 at 11:56 am Sorry Mike.…I believe in the F35 program, but it is not ready. The world’s most advanced avionics package is actually several years behind schedule. Check the GAO reports on this. http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-450T F35 and F22 decisions have nothing to do with Pres. Obama’s opinion on the aircraft and everything to do with their actual capabilities, need, performance and cost.
	Brian April 7th, 2011 at 11:59 am Has there been issues absolutely. Has the military ever fielded three concurrent aircraft for three services EVER, nope. …F4 Read more: http://www.dodbuzz.com/2011/04/04/21686/#ixzz1Iqz…
	freefallingbomb April 7th, 2011 at 12:58 pm And you believe in U.F.O.s, miracles and Lockheed Martin’s publicity. That’s why you’re right about the F-$$ while I’m not!
	Guest April 7th, 2011 at 1:37 pm No, I’m right about it because I’ve actually worked on the program and know what’s going on over there.
	Guest April 7th, 2011 at 1:40 pm But your right. Lets end the program now and put 1000’s of Americans out of work because you don’t like it.
	BreakTheCycle April 7th, 2011 at 2:03 pm you’re pathetic. learn how to read a DoD SAR. according to you, f-35 is “no problem” right? so you think we have a sustainable defense program if every program that runs over 58% is “no problem”? or does it only matter to you that we burn our cash on endless development, and there’s nothing left to actually operate & maintain the jets? You are ignorant & oblivious. You seriously need to repeat basic education.
	freefallingbomb April 7th, 2011 at 3:09 pm To the poster Mr. William C. ————————————- Part 1 / 5 You wrote: “Even if he had a SA-3 battery in his backyard, a F-22 or B-2 could drop a JDAM on it with ease.” I don’t know what “sentimental souvenirs” from the Serbian Air Campaign Colonel Zoltán Dani still keeps in his barn or garage (probably stuff he tinkered on himself — entirely without the support of a whole M.I.C., D.A.R.P.A. or U.S. American Defense budget), but you better hope that he never intends to put it to use anywhere. Not even for a billion $ from some oil sheik molested by N.A.T.O. . (Continued)
	freefallingbomb April 7th, 2011 at 3:10 pm Part 2 / 5 Anyway, I really enjoyed your (expected, predictable, histrionic) imperialistic hubris, to assume that as an enemy of the U.S.A. Colonel Zoltán Dani would naturally be so fatally stupid as to mount a POINT defense with his collection of SAMs: What if he positioned all his SAMs in a circle of 30 km around his invincible bakery? Whaddya gonna do THEN , Einstein? (Heh heh heh.….….….….….….….… GOTCHA !) (Continued)
	freefallingbomb April 7th, 2011 at 3:10 pm Part 3 / 5 You wrote: “Where is this enormous trade-off in maneuverability? The F-22A is one of the most maneuverable aircraft in the world” 1) That has NEVER been clearly established with repeated fly-offs against comparable models, including against Sukhois! Most of this talk is just manipulated computer simulations. Come on: You’re living in the U.S.A., man! (Continued)
	freefallingbomb April 7th, 2011 at 3:16 pm Part 5 / 5 But rest assured: Soon all the U.S. Airforce’s 500++ billion $ spent on this whole “stealth” fetish will be flushed down the toilet by some Russian mini-gadget that pinpoints U.S. stealth planes to each Sukhoi and S-500 site like Dumbos, for only a few 1.000 rubles per copy! Some people even say that this technology already exists: The range of the Russian, allegedly stealth-seeing “Kolchuga” radar is 800 km = not much less than a “stealthy” F-$$ B’s action radius!!!!!!! So, my dear Lockheed fan, now don’t forget to build all 2.443 of them — whatever the price!
	Brandon April 7th, 2011 at 3:28 pm I heard that the U.S. Army is getting the F-35B model, the variant of the USMC.…..is that true? Unless they’re just sticking with their helicopters.…..
	William C. April 7th, 2011 at 7:26 pm I love these claims of mythical Russian technology that can “pinpoint” US stealth aircraft. The RUSSIA-STRONG crowd never quits.
	C W "Trigger" Miller April 9th, 2011 at 11:42 am Yes, we still have no plan, no database, no GIG, no NOTHING that can help Airborne Connectivity. Why, simply because we have built two platforms the JSF and F-22 that currently neither has Connectivity between each other nor do they have connectivity to B-2, C2, C4, or legacy platforms other than 1935 Voice Communications. These “Great Ignorant Generals and Admirals” listed to the Morons at Lockheed Martin disregarded the entire JCITS and JROC Process.
	C W "Trigger" Miller April 9th, 2011 at 11:43 am These “Leaders” are supposed to oversee the acquisition process in the DOD instead they listen to the Prime Integrators so they can retire from the DOD and put on their civilian cloths and step into a position with Lockheed and other integrators. This type of behavior needs to STOP!!! We were ready, willing and able to integrate the entire battlespace over 5 years ago. However, these morons including General Lord and Admiral Mullins decided not to fund TTNT or integration effort to make things happen, Instead they integrated F-22’s Intra Flight Data Link (IFDL) and the F-35’s Multi-Function Advanced Data link (MADL) that cannot communicate with anyone except either F-22 or JSF!!!!! This is Outrages and incomprehensible for responsible leaders to allow all but these outdated 20 year old F-22 and JSF. They Bypassed the Joint Capabilities Integration Development System (JCIDS) Process and Title 10. The need to be FIRED!!!
	William C. April 9th, 2011 at 1:12 pm It doesn’t work that way. CTOL LRIP Batch 4 was less than $130 mil and this will continue to go down as time moves on, all aspects of the design are finalized and full-rate production begins. Price will probably flatten out to $75 million “then year” dollars around 2018 or so. JSF program thinks it will be slightly less than that. Of course there are like five different government organizations with their own cost estimates. And the rest of your commentary is just crazy talk. After-burning ships? Stealth is dead?
	Trophy April 9th, 2011 at 3:22 pm He’s been posting that exact same drivel on several articles on this site.
	C W "Trigger" Miller April 11th, 2011 at 9:38 am JSF is a Waste of Funds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The damn thing is already 15 or 16 years old!!! Worthless!!!! Excpet for Lockheed I need an additional 155,000,000.00 in addition to 15, 000, 000.00 for the cost of money!!! Congress should investigate this entire platform, top to bottom. Sort of looks like Goldman and Citi.
	C W "Trigger" Miller April 12th, 2011 at 1:34 pm 15–20 JSF JPO Program Managers in and out of the JSF Program in 15 plus years. Of course this includes this also includes the most resent Marine Corps Colonel that was fired/relieved of duty. The Program was so screwed up JPO had to bring in a retiring 3 star to help stop the bleeding. BTW: The Majority of these fired, removed and retired Officers now work for Lockheed Martin and solicit the Senate and Congress for continued funding. Yes, the Great Steven Hawkins would find it impossible to define the leading-edge of this JSF/F-22 Black Funding Hole. Here is an idea!!! Let’s not only procure another worthless platform at $150,000,000.00 Dollars Each times 2600 aircraft. Let’s build one with NO GUN on-board for Air-Air Combat, Afterburning engine for IRST recognition, NO Communications with F-22 or any legacy platforms and NO Creditable BFT-CID for Fratricide on Stealth Platform. What do you say!!! Let’s talk to Lockheed Martin and the 200 General’s they have working at Fort-Worth….
	Oblat April 12th, 2011 at 2:44 pm If the F35 takes off and doesn’t crash that is sold a successful test. The fact that nothing new was tested is avoided. Because the ugly reality of the testing progress would be revealed. Half the fleet cant fly and the other half cant make a sharp turn otherwise it will burn out the electrical system. A heap of software is late and there are numerous other design flaws. All these new problems require re-testing and additional tests. That is not progress that is a program going backwards.
	karl April 19th, 2011 at 10:13 am yeah, wikipedia is where I go for the gods honest truth…not
	TheDude April 19th, 2011 at 3:03 pm Could FUBAR apply here?

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