LIGHTNING IITHE FIGHTER EVOLUTION - F-35

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F-35 LIGHTNING II UK Leadership

and we have to continuously modernise the

fleet throughout its life. The end of SDD

doesn’t mean we have to sit and wait years

for a big enhancement phase; instead we

have a rolling cycle of upgrades to realise

the latest capabilities across the operator

nations to stay ahead of the adversary – you

have to modernise through life to remain

ahead of the threat. The Continuous

Capability Development and Delivery

(C2D2) programme is the new delivery

mechanism for follow-on modernisation.

Much of this aircraft’s capability is

software-driven and roughly every six

months there will be a new capability drop

that is achieved through an agile process.

Block 4 will be delivered through C2D2.

For the UK that broadly brings us Meteor,

SPEAR Cap 3 (Selective Precision Effects At

Range Capability 3), plus a latest variant of

the Paveway IV with increased capabilities.

Paveway IV Tactical Penetrator will be

our first post-SDD weapon, followed by

an upgrade from Block IV to Block VI

ASRAAM. Looking further ahead, we are

already working to define Blocks 5 and 6.

A revolutionary approach

For now, our primary focus is on bringing

everything together for IOC and we are well

into the phased return of personnel to RAF

Marham. Some people are already back

here and working in the new Lightning

Force Headquarters. The Lightning

Basing Team has done

a phenomenal job with

the new impressive

infrastructure

at Marham.

RIGHT: No 17 TES retains three F-35Bs in the US for operational evaluation. Jamie Hunter

BELOW: As the UK works towards initial operational capability with the F-35B at the end of

2018, Lightnings will start to be seen more frequently in the UK. Jamie Hunter