JSF jumps key hurdle

Also recertified under the review were the US Army’s AH-64 Apache Block 3 enhancement program, and of particular relevance to Australia, the Wideband Global Satellite (WGS) communications project. The ADF has funded one of the six planned satellites under Project JP2008 Phase 4, in exchange for access to the entire constellation.

* F-35 FUNDING UNDER NEW THREAT: The US Congress has threatened to reduce funding and slash production numbers of the F-35 JSF in FY2011 if the program fails to achieve revised cost and schedule goals this year.

A bill, dubbed ‘HR 5136’, has been introduced to reduce the F-35’s development budget by 25 per cent and further cut the FY2011 aircraft buy from 43 to 31 aircraft if Lockheed Martin fails to complete the scheduled 394 test flights in FY2010 (to September 30). To May 1, 60 test flights had been completed in FY2010, but the accelerating addition of aircraft to the test fleet is expected to see this total rise significantly. A Congressional statement said the funding was dependant on “requirements that the timeline, as laid out by the contractor and by DoD, be met.”

“It’s a critical program,” said Democrat Representative for Washington, Adam Smith. “It’s replacing almost all of our fighter attack aircraft over the course of the next five to 20 years. We have to make sure that it works and functions.”

The program was significantly restructured by the Office of the Secretary of Defense in February following cost and schedule blowouts, and subsequently incurred a ‘Nunn-McCurdy’ cost breach in late March.

* FIRST F-35C FINALLY FLIES: The first Lockheed Martin F-35C carrier variant (CV) made its first flight at Fort Worth on June 6, 10 months after it rolled off the production line last August.

The flight of CF-01, which features a larger wing and horizontal stabiliser area, folding outer wing panels, structural strengthening, an arrestor hook and beefed up undercarriage for carrier catapult launches and landings, lasted 57 minutes. The delay is believed to have been caused by ‘travelled work’ on contractor supplied components resulting in an extended post-production modification period.

Two more F-35Cs are scheduled to fly this year and will join four F-35Bs at the US Navy’s NAS Patuxent River test facility including BF-04, the first F-35B equipped with a mission system, which arrived at Pax River on June 7.

* CAPITOL HILL RE-REINSTATES F136 JSF ENGINE FUNDING: The US House Armed Services Committee has added funding for the GE/RR F136 engine for the JSF program to the FY011 US defence budget after funding was omitted by the Pentagon, the fifth year in a row this has been done.

The US$485m (A$553m) in funds would allow development of the F136 engine to continue. The alternative engine was originally planned to give JSF customers a choice of engine, as a hedge in case either it or the P&W F135 experienced a grounding issue, and to provide a competitive incentive to keep the costs of both engines down. But with costs on the JSF program rising in recent years, the Pentagon and both the Bush and Obama administrations have tried to delete funding for the F136.

The F136 is due to fly on a development JSF in 2012, five years behind the F135 which was derived from the F-22’s F119 engine, but is reported to have a newer generation design and materials, and greater growth potential.

* FIRST F-35As ARRIVE AT EDWARDS: F-35A development aircraft AF-01 and AF-02 have flown from Lockheed Martin’s Forth Worth factory in Texas nonstop to Edwards AFB in California to commence flight test operations with the USAF.

The two aircraft are the first of eight to be eventually based at Edwards for propulsion, aerial refuelling, logistical support, weapons integration and flight envelope expansion activities. “This historic moment at Edwards AFB begins the planned expansion of F-35 flight test to a third permanent operating location,” said Doug Pearson, Lockheed Martin vice president of F-35 test and verification. “Lockheed Martin F-35A flight testing is a highly integrated partnership with the USAF.”

Three F-35B STOVL development aircraft are based at the US Navy’s test facility at NAS Patuxent River near Washington DC, while the first F-35C is due to join the flight test program shortly.