Aviation News. 05.2018

Cap 3 air-to-ground weapon are to be added

to the arsenal of the UK’s F-35s, the latter

likely to be in the mid-2020s.

FLYING THE F-35B

The OC was glowing in his praise of the

Lightning: “It’s an absolute wonder. If you

have a look at the F-35 cockpit there are

very few switches and you have two rather

large panoramic displays, which you can

manipulate to create whatever information

displays you want. Also, with the helmet if

you add those two together and couple it

with the sensors that the Lightning has it

provides you with absolutely phenomenal

situational awareness. It allows you

to absorb all of the information in the

battlespace and process it and be able to

understand what is going on out there and

that informs your decision-making.

“In particular, the F-35B has the ability

for us to operate in all sorts of different

environments akin to how we used to

employ the Harrier, operating from not just

main operating bases but smaller strips

and carriers as well. And then you have the

stealth capability on top of that, the ability

to go supersonic and then come back and

land vertically. You really have this absolutely

amazing weapons system with huge  exibility

that provides you the cutting edge on the

battle eld and so, from my perspective, is an

absolute wonder and a pleasure to operate.”

While the future incarnation of the

Dambusters with its F-35Bs may seem far

removed from the Lancasters of the Dams

raid, Wg Cdr Butcher sees comparisons

between then and now. “This is 617 Sqn’s

75th year, and the RAF’s 100th anniversary,

and when we look back at the squadron’s

history it was formed for a very special

mission. It brought together the very best of

defence and industry to create this squadron

to go and do what it did, and I think there are

many parallels to what UK defence is doing

this year. No.617 Sqn is once again being re-

formed for a very special purpose – to bring

into service a supersonic stealth aircraft with

a short take-off and vertical landing capability

using the very best of UK defence from the

Royal Air Force and Royal Navy. I think you

can really see the similarities with what our

forefathers did 75 years ago and what we are

trying to achieve now.”

52 Aviation News incorporating Jets May 2018

The squadron is to take up residence at RAF Marham and is due to arrive in the UK this summer. Extensive work is under way at the Norfolk

base in preparation for F-35B operations. MoD/Crown Copyright 2016

Initially RAF F-35Bs will have the AMRAAM and ASRAAM air-to-air missiles and Paveway IV precision-guided bomb in their arsenal.

The aircraft will receive numerous upgrades and capability improvements, including the addition of more weapons, in the years ahead.

MoD/Crown Copyright 2016

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