ANALYSIS: F-35
revolutionises multi-role operations for IAF
·
01 FEBRUARY, 2016 - BY: ARIE
EGOZI - TEL AVIV
The Israeli Air
Force (IAF) has accelerated its preparations for the delivery of the first
Lockheed Martin F-35I Adir at the end of the year.
The "Golden Eagle"
squadron at the Nevatim airbase is working to be ready for the stealth fighter
that in Israel is considered one of the main elements of the edge the IAF wants
to have in any future war.
Major Ehud is the F-35 squadron
project manager in charge of the preparations. He said the deployment of the
F-35 in the IAF is no less than a revolution. "With its capabilities, it
redefines the term multi-role aircraft,” Ehud says.
"We know even before the
first aircraft lands in this base that it's a force multiplier. Two F-35s will
do the work of larger formations, sometimes of different types. Its
capabilities to locate targets and perform the best attack under different
conditions are no less than an operational revolution.”
In a slightly different way, the
F-35 also revolutionises how frontline fighters are maintained. In the US joint
programme office’s concept, overseas maintenance work will be consolidated at
regional hubs in Europe and the Pacific. For Israel, however, that strategy
always seemed in conflict with the air force’s insistence on as much freedom as
possible from foreign suppliers.
In recent years, since the first
contract for the purchase of the F-35 was signed, the IAF has decided only
subsystems of the F-35 may be sent for maintenance and repair in special
centres abroad.
"We have made it clear the
maintenance of the aircraft, including depot level, will be done in our bases”,
an IAF senior officer told Flight. He added, even subsystems will be sent to
other countries only if "there is a technical reason”.
The preparations for the
deployment of the F-35 include the establishment of a combined simulator centre
in the IAF's Nevatim air base. "Part of the simulation centre already
operates and we plan to complete it by the end of the year,” the officer says.
IAF fighter pilots have begun
training on the F-35 at bases in the USA. These pilots will be the first to fly
the aircraft in Israel and will instruct the others as more aircraft are
delivered.
When the IAF decided to purchase
the F-35, it made clear the preferred configuration will include an
Israel-developed electronic warfare system, replacing the BAE Systems ASQ-239
Barracuda. This request was not accepted by Washington, but there are
indications that after the stealth fighter arrives in Israel, “add-on"
subsystems will be installed to give it the needed "special edge"
based on the vast operational experience of the IAF in the Middle East.
The Israeli F-35s will also
carry a unique communication system in the cockpit. The additional box will
allow the F-35s to integrate with Israel’s recently deployed airborne network,
which Rafael calls Ravnet-300 on the export market. Though in some ways comparable
to the NATO-standard Link 16 system, Ravnet-300 operates significantly faster
and allows more applications.
In December a contract for the
purchase of another 14 Lockheed Martin F-35 (Adir) fighters for the IAF was
signed in Washington.
The IAF and the ministry of
defence wanted to purchase 31 F-35s but strong opposition in the Israeli
cabinet limited the number in the new $2.82 billion deal. Instead, the new
contract includes options for an additional 17 examples.
In 2010, Israel had already signed
a deal to purchase 19 of the fighters.
Defence ministry sources say
efforts will continue to purchase the additional number of the stealth aircraft
that match the operational needs of the IAF.
The original plan was to deploy
75 F-35Is, replacing an ageing fleet of F-16A/Bs. Recent political dynamics
could bolster the air force’s plans to buy more of the fighters. Last year, the
Obama administration accepted terms on a nuclear deal with Iran over the
objections of the Israeli government. In return, Tel Aviv expects to receive a
“compensation package” from the US government. Indications suggest such a
package will increase the number of F-35Is sold to Israel, perhaps nearing the
air force’s original procurement plan.
In addition to the
communications and maintenance deals, Israeli industry also stands to benefit
from the F-35I acquisition. As part of the industrial co-operation agreements
included in the two contracts signed so far, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)
is supplying wings for the F-35A, and a joint venture that includes Elbit
Systems is providing the special pilot helmet.
IAI’s highly automated wing
manufacturing line is scheduled to produce more than 811 pairs of F-35 wings
over the next decade, rising to a production rate of four per month by the end
of the year.
The Lahav division of IAI has in
the past manufactured wings for the Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter aircraft and
the USAF’s Northrop T-38C Talon trainers, as well as major assemblies for other
aircraft and customers.
Israel has not joined the F-35
multinational program as a full partner, but has been trying to get
manufacturing contracts as part of the industrial co-operation agreement that
is part of every deal of this nature.
If more contracts are signed,
the Israeli ministry of defence plans to increase the volume of parts and
systems for the F-35 that will be manufactured in Israel.
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