F-35 programme office defends gun and sensor
Two critical close air support systems – a 25mm cannon and
an electro-optical targeting system (EOTS) – will be available
on the Lockheed Martin F-35 by 2017 and will meet
expectations, say programme officials on 7 January.
The F-35 joint programme office (JPO) defended
both systems against what it calls “nameless/sourceless/
baseless reporting” in recent weeks, but acknowledged one
new development problem for the gun and some operational
limitations for the Lockheed-built EOTS sensor.
both systems against what it calls “nameless/sourceless/
baseless reporting” in recent weeks, but acknowledged one
new development problem for the gun and some operational
limitations for the Lockheed-built EOTS sensor.
Contrary to a report that the General Dynamics GAU-22 gun
is unable to be fired until 2019, the JPO says it will be delivered
when the Block 3F software becomes operational. That delivery
date is now scheduled in Fiscal 2017 with aircraft built in the
ninth lot of low-rate initial production (LRIP-9).
is unable to be fired until 2019, the JPO says it will be delivered
when the Block 3F software becomes operational. That delivery
date is now scheduled in Fiscal 2017 with aircraft built in the
ninth lot of low-rate initial production (LRIP-9).
The JPO says that operators accepted that timeline for the
cannon system in 2005. However, in 2005, the Block 3F
software was supposed to be first installed on LRIP-5
aircraft delivered in 2013. Software development was
subsequently delayed by four years.
cannon system in 2005. However, in 2005, the Block 3F
software was supposed to be first installed on LRIP-5
aircraft delivered in 2013. Software development was
subsequently delayed by four years.
Meanwhile, the JPO confirms that laboratory tests last month
dentified a “minor low-level issue” with the software controlling
the gun system. It is scheduled to be fixed this spring with
no impact on the fielding schedule two years later, the JPO
says.
dentified a “minor low-level issue” with the software controlling
the gun system. It is scheduled to be fixed this spring with
no impact on the fielding schedule two years later, the JPO
says.
The JPO also defended the F-35's primary sensor for close
air support operations – the EOTS. The electro-optical and
infrared camera will be able to transmit still images to joint
terminal attack controllers on the ground using the aircraft’s
Link-16 transmitter. An earlier version of this article
mistakenly reported that the JPO message corrected a
statement in article by the online Daily Beast, but that article
did not address still imagery.
air support operations – the EOTS. The electro-optical and
infrared camera will be able to transmit still images to joint
terminal attack controllers on the ground using the aircraft’s
Link-16 transmitter. An earlier version of this article
mistakenly reported that the JPO message corrected a
statement in article by the online Daily Beast, but that article
did not address still imagery.
At the same time, the JPO concedes that the EOTS will lack
several features commonly found on the latest generation of
targeting pods carried by fighters the F-35 is replacing. These
features include higher definition video, longer range target
detection and identification, video data link and an infrared
marker and pointer. Customers can add those features in later
block upgrades, however, the JPO says.
several features commonly found on the latest generation of
targeting pods carried by fighters the F-35 is replacing. These
features include higher definition video, longer range target
detection and identification, video data link and an infrared
marker and pointer. Customers can add those features in later
block upgrades, however, the JPO says.
“As with all development programmes, the F-35 baseline
requirements define the starting place for capabilities that
will be evolved and upgraded over the life of the programme,”
the JPO says.
requirements define the starting place for capabilities that
will be evolved and upgraded over the life of the programme,”
the JPO says.
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