F-35 and defence news - AIN

Spotlight on F-35 AIN’s new F-35 microsite has comprehensive news and information about the next-generation Joint Strike Fighter. Click here for news updates, background information, videos and images covering every aspect of the global F-35 program.

Farnborough Show Brought Plenty of Defense News The Farnborough International Airshow was supposed to continue the coming-out party for the F-35 that started the previous week at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT). But the F-35B STOVL stealth fighter was displayed on only one of the four trade days, and was not in the static display. Lockheed Martin was upstaged by Boeing, which chose Farnborough to celebrate its 100th anniversary, and was confirmed by the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) as the recipient of orders for the P-8 and AH-64E worth $6 billion. However, there was plenty of program news about the F-35, and the British outlined their plans to introduce the Lightning II into service. Rolls-Royce provides the LiftFan for the F-35B, and together with Pratt and Whitney announced plans for in-service support in the UK. Raytheon was highlighting the aircraft’s weapons carriage capabilities, and AIN provided an update. We also reported on the aircraft’s controversial Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS); its P&W F135 engine; and training challenges. Martin Baker and program officials said that a problem with the F-35 ejection seat is being fixed.    Read More

More F-35 News from RIAT and Farnborough What follows is a roundup of news about the F-35 that was generated around the RIAT and the Farnborough airshows. AIN reported on the major announcements and briefings last week, both online and in the printed editions of Farnborough Airshow News. BAE Systems revealed that a team of software engineers numbering hundreds at its Samlesbury site in the UK had made a significant contribution to the Lightning II’s Block 3i software update. This is the version on jets currently being delivered. The British team contributed to the fuel management system, on-board vehicle systems, structural health management, and navigation and cockpit displays. Block 3i is the penultimate software version in the F-35 development contract, and amounts to 89 percent of the code required for full operational capability. That comes with the ultimate Block 3F version, which has 8 million lines of code and is scheduled to be finished by the end of the year. Read More