Aviation 12

2019. Its assets will be realigned into VFA-
      125 and VFA-147.
      Pilots from VFA-101 conducted their  rst
      carrier quali cations (CQ) aboard the USS
      Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) on September 3,


2020. A pilot from VFA-125 became the  rst to
      operate the F-35C from the USS Carl Vinson
      (CVN 70) off the coast of Southern California
      on October 18. During a second CQ period
      aboard the Lincoln, aviators from VFA-101,
      VFA-125 and VX-9 utilised the all-weather
      Joint Precision Approach and Landing
      System (JPALS) in an operational setting for
      the  rst time. The December 2017 underway
      period also included the  rst shipboard use
      of the  ghter’s Autonomic Logistic Information
      System (ALIS).
      Naval Aviators from strike  ghter
      squadrons VFA-101, VFA-125 and VFA-147
      joined carrier air wing CVW-7 aboard the
      USS Abraham Lincoln to conduct routine
      cyclic operations as part of Operational Test-1
      (OT-1) in late August 2018.
      Transition of the  rst operational squadron
      to the F-35C began in December 2017 when
      personnel from VFA-147 started training at
      Lemoore. The ‘Argonauts’ inaugural F-35C
       ights were carried out at Lemoore on
      April 18, 2018. The squadron, which had
      previously  own the F/A-18E, will complete
      its conversion in late 2018, and will achieve
      IOC with Block 3F software by February


2021. VFA-147 will make its  rst operational
      deployment aboard the USS Carl Vinson
      (CVN 70) in 2021. The squadron received
      its  rst aircraft and achieved Safe for Flight
      status in October 2018.
      The US Navy activated a new type of
      wing when commander, Joint Strike Fighter
      Wing, was established at NAS Lemoore on
      August 1, 2018 and assumed administrative
      control over VFA-101, VFA-125 and VFA-147.
      Although F-35Cs will initially be stationed
      at Lemoore, the navy has con rmed plans
      to station Lightning IIs at MCAS Iwakuni,
      sometime after 2021. The aircraft will
      replace Super Hornets with one of the four
      squadrons assigned to CVW-5.

MODERNISATION

With Block 3F software  elded, development

of new and upgraded capabilities will

continue under the Capability Development

and Delivery (C2D2) program. Multi-

phase Block 4 software development is

expected to run through to 2024 and cost

around $10.8bn. It will address de ciencies

identi ed during the Block 3F development

and provide a series of incremental

upgrades. Block 4 efforts involve integration

of a new processor and a new electro-optical

sensor, along with the Joint Strike Missile

(JSM) for Norway. Integration of the B61-12

nuclear weapon, which is also aligned with

Block 4, will make the F-35A variant a Dual

Capable Aircraft (DCA). Work on the Block

4.1 increment began in April 2018.

In 2017, the programme met its delivery

target of 66 aircraft, which represented over

a 40% increase from 2016. Its target for 2018

is 91 aircraft deliveries, comprising 85 from

Fort Worth, two from the Italian and four from

the Japanese FACO facilities. As production

volumes increase, the three facilities will

deliver around 160 aircraft annually beginning

in 2023. Full rate production is expected to

be approved by the DoD in April 2019 and a

multi-year contract will follow in 2021.

Since production began, the price of an

F-35A has come down more than 60% and,

since 2015, the production span time has

decreased by about 20%. The $11.5bn Lot 11

contract includes 91 aircraft for US services,

28 for international partners and 22 for FMS

customers. Deliveries will begin in 2019.

The cost for all three Lighting II variants has

been reduced again under Lot 11.

Model Lot 10 Lot 11 Reduction

F-35A $94.3m $89.2m 5.0%

F-35B $122.4m $115.5 5.7%

F-35C $121.2m $107.7m 11.1%

Lockheed Martin is con dent that by

2020, as production volumes increase and

additional efficiencies are implemented, the

individual cost of an F-35A will be reduced to

$80m. Costs to produce the F-35B and F-35C

have continued a downward trend as well.

POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS

The German government has shortlisted

several  ghters that could replace its 85

Tornado strike aircraft in the 2025-2030

period under its ‘Command Fighter Advanced’

(CFX) programme. Germany is looking at

the F-15E, F/A-18E/F and Typhoon, but the

air force reportedly prefers the acquisition

of a  fth-generation  ghter. The CFX will

be the central node of a networked strike

complex that will include the current  eet of

fourth-generation Typhoons and unmanned

aircraft. The air force is considering a new

development programme or an off-the-shelf,

next-generation option for the CFX project.

The Lighting II’s advanced sensors and

networking capabilities and interoperability

with NATO partners F-35  eets make it an

attractive option.

The US government has reportedly

held early discussions with the United Arab

Emirates regarding the purchase of F-35s.

The Gulf nation hopes to acquire as many as

25  ghters that would equip two squadrons.

Concerns over protecting the network-centric

 ghter’s sensitive technology and other

critical information could prohibit the sale.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force

remains interested in the F-35A and the

Spanish and Turkish navies are considered

potential customers for the F-35B. As the price

of the Lightning II nears that of current fourth-

generation  ghters, additional customers will

undoubtedly line up to purchase the highly

capable combat aircraft.

38 Aviation News incorporating Jets December 2018

Of the 2,457 Lightning IIs the USA plans to purchase, 1,763 are to be F-35As for the nation’s air

force. Lockheed Martin

The USS George Washington hosted two VX-

23 ‘Salty Dogs’ F-35Cs during August 2016 as

part of the carrier’s  nal development testing

cycle. Lockheed Martin