Stressing the true multi-role capabilities of
the F-35, he said: “You can transition from
an air-to-surface to an air-to-air mission
literally at the flick of a switch on the HOTAS
[hands on throttle and stick]. My flight today
included a trial looking at target location offset
errors in the EOTS [Electro-Optical Targeting
System]. I was looking at zoom modes,
track modes and ranges that will be best
to develop coordinates suitable to employ
weapons on. Our R-2508 airspace is busy, so
I’ve got one screen on the display for looking
at the target area, plus another map looking
out to 60 miles around me for any traffic.
“I can look out from the target box and in the
helmet for any traffic cues, and see immediately
if we have a confliction. I’m very comfortable
that even if I’m looking for a target, the F-35
is monitoring for any pop-up air threats, so I
can very quickly make a tactical decision as to
whether I need to stop prosecuting the target
and deal with the air threat, or whether I can
continue with the target and then transition.”
One of the major events on the horizon for the
squadron is the start of formal Initial Operational
Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) for the F-35. This
is an 18-month effort across the JOTT team
at Edwards that that has been delayed by the
late clearance of Block 3F by the development
test team, but it is now set for 2018.
For the ‘Black Knights’ it’s a case of playing
a key role in this as well as handling the
UK-specific test elements that need to be
addressed. An impartial and independent
White Force in the JOTT is currently putting
the final touches to the test plan for IOT&E
to ensure it stringently exercises the full
range of mission sets. No 17(R) TES is
currently flying some mission rehearsals
in support of this important phase.
“We aren’t supposed to understand the
mission ahead of time, but the rehearsals
help the White Force refine their plan to
help achieve all of the test objectives and
maximise the stressing of the aeroplane.
Ultimately, we are trying to be as
operationally representative as possible.”
Cdr Tidball comes from a recent posting with
US Navy Air Test and Evaluation Squadron
(VX) 9 ‘Vampires’, with which he flew the SuperHornet. He calls the F-35 ‘another step ahead’.
“The F-35 mission systems, the sensor
fusion, the single picture you are presented
with is phenomenal. Depending on the
mission, we need to shape the data we
want, tailor how we have sensors working- that’s part of our remit – how we use the
radar, the EOTS, the infrared search and
track, for us there’s a lot of focus on that.”
HMS Queen Elizabeth
The ultimate goal for the UK Lightning
Force in the medium term is to put a strike
package of 24 F-35s to sea aboard the
new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth in- The first step towards this goal is the
First of Class flying trials set for mid-2018.
Cdr Tidball went to sea with the US
Marine Corps during the DT-3 F-35B
trials in October 2016 in what was a great
indicator of how close the relationship is
between the UK and the other operational
test squadrons, particularly the USMC.
“I was able to get daytime carrier qualified
with VMX-1,” he says. In addition, the
Above right: Cdr Tidball taxies in at the Joint
Operational Test Team flight line at Edwards AFB.
This area is shared with the USAF’s 31st TES, the
US Navy’s VX-9, the USMC’s VMX-1 and the Royal
Netherlands Air Force’s 323rd TES. Richard Collens
Left: The ‘Black Knights’ have three F-35Bs at
their disposal, although they receive regular
hardware and software updates that has kept
them apace with the latest developments.
Right: Maintainers are embedded with the ‘Black
Knights’ to receive UK-specific training on F-35
engineering procedures including using the
Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS).
Richard Collens
http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #358 JANUARY 2018 // 67