LIGHTNING IITHE FIGHTER EVOLUTION - F-35

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As well as an expanded flight envelope, the
advent of Block 3F will see the F-35s starting
to carry external pylons and stores. “Once
we ‘kick down the door’ and don’t need the
stealth anymore, let’s load it up, haul iron,
put the cannon on – we’re absolutely going
to get down low and use it. We’re going
to employ the F-35 the same way we do
our Hornets and Harriers. However, those
missions where we’re rooting around under
the clouds looking for a target, we now
have some pretty spectacular capabilities
to stay above the weather and see though
it – so there are some things that we’ve not
had in the past that we can now use.”
An area where the sensor suite has come
in for some criticism is the Electro-Optical
Targeting System (EOTS), which has been
compared to early-generation targeting
pods. Unlike aircraft that carry a pod that
can be easily detached and swapped out for

a newer system, the F-35’s

EOTS has remained largely

untouched since the jet

entered testing. Most admit

that the EOTS resolution

has some limitations when

compared to the latest pods,

and that a low-light TV

would be a useful addition,

but these shortcomings are easily

compensated by the huge screen in

the cockpit that the imagery is viewed on.

Going to sea

In late October 2016, VMFA-211 participated

in Exercise Dawn Blitz, embarking

aboard the USS Essex (LHD 2) as part of

a Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB).

The squadron had already embarked

on the Essex in August to assist in

the re-certification of

the ship’s flight deck

with new upgrades to

accommodate the F-35.

“That was our first night

CQ in the squadron – in

fact it was really the first

night CQ evolution in the

fleet,” explained Vaughn.

“About a mile behind the ship

you’re set up in Mode 4 [STOVL

mode] and starting to decelerate. The LSO

[landing signals officer] lets you know

the ship’s speed, so you can program that

into the autopilot and the jet will auto-

decelerate. Ultimately, you’re looking to

pull up to a hover abeam the port side of

the ship in daylight. At night you’re going

to fly down the centre ‘tramline’ of the

deck and creep up over Spot Seven,

which is where we generally land.”

but these shortcomings are easily

compensated by the huge screen in

the re-certification of

the ship’s flight deck

with new upgrades to

accommodate the F-35.

“That was our first night

CQ in the squadron – in

fact it was really the first

night CQ evolution in the

fleet,” explained Vaughn.

“About a mile behind the ship

you’re set up in Mode 4 [STOVL

Operational F-35B sorties are currently  own

with a ‘clean’ con guration. However, the

arrival of Block 3F software in 2018 will see

pylons and external stores starting to be

carried. Jamie Hunter

F-35B Lightning IIs

of VMFA-211 ‘Wake

Island Avengers’ from

MCAS Yuma, Arizona.

Jamie Hunter