Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II ("Lockheed Martin» F-35 "Lightning II») - a family of stealth multi-role fighters, bombers of the fifth generation, developed by the American company Lockheed Martin in three versions: Ground fighter (ctol) for the needs of the US Air Force, fighter with a short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) Shells for US and British Navy Marine Corps, and carrier-based fighter (CV) for the needs of the US Navy.
F-35 – video
The consortium headed by Lockheed Martin also included Northrop Grumman Corporation, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce plc, Allison и British Aerospace. In the development of individual units participated Skunk works in Palmdale (California) и Aeronautical Systems.
JSF Program
AT 1995 the company Lockheed Martin announced a collaboration with Yakovlev. The knowledge and experience of the Soviet technicians, accumulated in the development of Soviet fighter aircraft vertical takeoff and landing Yak-141, involved for the F-35 development. demo version, Lockheed Martin X-35B, largely resembles the Yak-141, except, that Yak-141 for vertical takeoff and landing, two additional lifting turbojet engine RD-41 were established, Lockheed Martin and product costing one main motor.
Selection of F-35 was made in the design 2001 year as a result of competition for the JSF program (English. Joint Strike Fighter - a single strike fighter) between The Boeing Company (Model X-32) и Lockheed Martin (Model X-35). The program included the creation of a single model of a fighter for the Air Force, Naval and Marine for vertical and short takeoff and landing to replace the F-16, A-10, F/A-18, AV-8B. Also suggests replacing the British Sea Harrier. The third model of the company McDonnell Douglas was rejected because of the complexity of the design.
Final testing of prototypes X-32 and X-35 have shown a clear advantage of the last: he demonstrated takeoff on the court long 150 m, developed supersonic speed, It landed vertically. One of the main advantages was named a method of creating vertical thrust: separate fan for X-35, and not just a change of direction of thrust main engines, how of X-32; It is forced to install rotary nozzle vertical take-off in the center of mass, near air intakes, which led to the re-introduction into the engine exhaust and engine overheating.
The result has been planned to develop a unified model of the fighter-bomber for the NATO countries basing on land and at sea. Program financed jointly by the US, United Kingdom (2,5 billion), Italy (1,0 billion), Netherlands (800 million dollars), Canada (440 million dollars), Turkey (175 million dollars), Australia (144 million dollars), Norway (122 million dollars) and Denmark (110 million dollars). The development and acquisition of aircraft originally planned to spend 233 billion, but the program was delayed considerably and went beyond budget. According to forecasts of US spending over the next 15 years will be 379 billion. Because of the high prices, a large number of aircraft purchased and plans for their long-term operation, maintenance and modernization of the F-35 finally through 50 years may exceed 1 trillion dollars.
In mid-March 2010 , there were reports, Denmark abandoned plans for the purchase of aircraft F-35, but later it became known, What's on 2012 It planned to hold an open competition, wherein the main contenders perform F-35 F / A-18E / F «Super Hornet» Boeing company and Saab JAS 39 Gripen. In June 2016 the Danish Parliament has agreed to provide 20 BEEK (three billion dollars), to buy 27 F-35 aircraft to replace the aging fleet of fighter.
AT 2011 in Australia there were negotiations about refusal from the purchase of hundreds of fighter F-35A Lightning II. Australia postponed the purchase of a two-year fighter. In accordance with the report of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute the main negative factors for the planned transaction began overstating the cost of the F-35 almost doubled to delay aircraft deliveries for up to 7 years. anticipated, that for this deferred purchase Australia will buy an additional batch of 24 aircraft F / A-18F Super Hornet, and half the existing F / A-18F armed perekonvertiruet EW planes in EA-18 Growler.
In October 2010 , the Israeli Air Force agreed to the purchase of the first batch of 20 fighter F-35 (96 million dollars per aircraft, the total amount of the transaction 2,75 billion). Israel has asked the US for permission to install a number of additional systems from its own development in the field of avionics and armaments purchased fighter. At the end of September 2010 year is a partial resolution was obtained. In this case, the United States set a condition, that if the Israeli Ministry of Defense to increase the order for F-35, he will be allowed to use them on an increasing number of its own systems and weapons. As part of the ongoing harmonization of the General Staff of long-term plan for the purchase of arms the Armed Forces of the country to plan purchases for at least another 20 fighters, so as, to bring the number up to 40 units to 2020 year. fighter delivery to Israel was scheduled to begin in the second half 2016 of the year, went to Israel the first two aircraft in the framework of the plan year and a half of the first delivery of fighter squadrons of F-35.
In late June, 2011 , the Israeli Air Force sent its specialists to the United States, where they led a group, Engaged in the development of the Israeli version of the aircraft - F-35I. reported, that they will work together with the representatives of the Pentagon and the company «Lockheed Martin» on, relating to the integration of Israeli technology in the fifth-generation fighter. The Israeli Air Force expects to receive from the Pentagon permission to start training their pilots BBC earlier 2016 year - at the same time, when US pilots will begin training on the new fighter.
20 November 2011 , the F-35 the first "international" (they became F-35B w / BK-1, intended for the RAF) He left the assembly hall. Its first flight was planned in the coming months, and the transfer to the customer - in 2012 year. In England, the aircraft would be used for final tests, and for the training of flight and technical personnel.
25 February 2011 for the first time I flew the first production F-35 - AF-6, a 6 May the first production aircraft (it turned out to be the next serial - AF-7, AF-6 was transferred a week later) It was handed over to the US Air Force. The aircraft was assigned to Edwards Air Force Base in California (fighter supply, in development, the troops took place before adopting it, on the basis of Edwards Air Force Test Pilots conducted final tests fighter). 13 April 2012 He made the first flight of the aircraft with the serial number BK-1 - the first machine for the UK and first for foreign partners at all. 6 August made its first flight F-35A serial number AN-1 - the first aircraft for the Netherlands and the first of the "foreign" cars of this modification.
By early December, the company Lockheed Martin produced the final assembly of the fourth production series cars, and ten cars made their first flights. reported, before the end 2012 the US Air Force Base Eglin should get 20 serial fighter F-35 for training pilots and ground technical staff. 19 June 2013 the vice-president of the group Lockheed Martin Steve O'Brien said at the air show in Le Bourget: "Israel is the first country, after the US, which will acquire a new generation of fighter aircraft F-35 ". The first batch will arrive in Israel at the end of 2016 of the year. During the visit to the US in October 2014 the Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon has agreed to purchase a second squadron of F-35 combat aircraft of the fifth generation. The company Lockheed Martin has pledged to put Israel more 25 fighter F-35. In this way, the total number of aircraft of this type in the IDF arsenal was to make 44.
28 November 2016 Israel's security Cabinet approved the purchase 17 F-35 units. The total number of aircraft ordered was 50 units. In the beginning of March 2015 year off the assembly line in Italy descended first gathered outside the US F-35 fighter. Aircraft, designated AL-1, He became the first of the eight machines, FACO collected on plant (Final Assembly and Check Out) near Cameri air base (Northern Italy). Italy intended to carry out the assembly as its F-35 (Earlier it was planned in order 131 fighter was reduced to 90 machines), and intended for the Netherlands Air Force fighter aircraft of this type.
cost of
For the development of the aircraft in April 2011 year has been spent over 56 billion. According to the newly elected President of Trump, the full cost of the project was 400 billions (instead 380 at 2013), cost per machine on average exceeded 150 millions, without arms and services (24 000 per hour which is close to lotnomu hour F-16), under the full cost is understood for the purchase of the plan (more than 2000) Flight, and only giving up procurement can reduce the amount of.
15 February 2012 it was announced about the decision of the US Department of Defense to postpone the purchase of a total of 179 fighter F-35. The same day, Giampaolo Di Paola, Defense Minister of Italy, announced plans to cut order with 131 to 90 F-35. According to the minister, Italy spent on the F-35 program, a total of 2,5 billion.
In November 2014 the corporation Lockheed Martin and the US Department of Defense signed a contract for the supply of F-35 aircraft of the next party. The transaction amount - 4,7 billion. Total purchased 43 aircraft, 29 of which for the US Air Force. The rest will be delivered to Israel, Japan, Norway, Great Britain and Italy.
The average price for a plane 3,5 % below, than in the previous contract and 57 % below, than that of the first batch. One modification plane A will cost 94,8 million dollars, modification B - 102 million, modification C for naval aviation - 115,7 million. All these prices do not include the price of the engine, considering the contract 1,05 billion with Pratt & Whitney for the supply of aircraft engines for aircraft of this party, the price of each modification increases by approximately 24,4 million dollars, accounting: 119,2 million dollars for the F-35A; 126,4 million dollars for the F-35B and 140,1 million dollars for the F-35C.
AT 2015 F-35 commissioning technical operation was moved to 2015 on 2019 year because of problems with weapons and aircraft maintenance software. later it was reported, that the problems will be solved without deadlines, but I will not change life, that can be understood as a mistake in terms of software development, and how the use of aircraft to complete unfinished.
After the end 2016 Year Donald Trump criticized the program for the creation of modern combat aircraft due to its cost, Lockheed Martin Corporation has announced the reduction of the cost of fighter aircraft F-35 to 85 million dollars in 2019 year.
Link F-35A US Air Force, 15 May 2013
Design
On the F-35 used many technological solutions, waste on the F-22. Designation serial options: F-35A (with a standard take-off and landing), F-35B (short takeoff and vertical landing) и F-35C (take off from an aircraft carrier deck using the catapult, and landing on the deck - with arresting gear).
onboard radar
The aircraft is equipped with multifunctional radar AFAR AN / APG-81, effectively operating as Air, and ground targets.
Radar AN-APG-81, manufactured using technology AFAR
Avionics
– Radar with active electronically scanned array AN / APG-81 production Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems.
AN/AAQ-37 - electron-optical system (EOS) with a distributed aperture (THE), consisting of 6 IR sensors, located on the fuselage c viewing range 360 degrees. system allows:
– Identify group ballistic missile at ranges up to 1300 km, accompany these objectives and provide target information for each of them in an automatic mode,.
– Detecting other ground and aerial targets
– To navigate in flight in the afternoon / night
– Warn of missile attack aircraft
– Detect a missile launch point, operating position flak
– Initial start-up the air-to-air missiles at targets, flying over the plane
AAQ-40 - omnidirectional infrared CCD-TV camera high definition, designed for viewing and targeting. It enables you to capture and maintenance of any land, surface and air targets. completely passive, it is able to detect and track targets automatically and at a great distance, as well as to report on laser irradiation plane.
AN/ASQ-239 (Barracuda) - electronic jamming station (RAP)
HMDS — Helmet-Mounted Display System. Nashlemnaya reconnaissance system and indications, possible to control eyes and turning heads.
PCD — panoramic cockpit display, widescreen touchscreen display (50 on 20 centimeters), it is also possible voice commands.
Optical location station F-35 with a germanium lens Fresnel
Data channels
The main data channel in the F-35 is used MADL (Multifunction Advanced Data Link).
This wideband channel operates in Ku-band, using a plurality of means to improve noise immunity and protection channel as the working frequency hopping (PPRCh), directional radio, etc.. P.
Display Helmet for pilot F-35 Helmet Mounted Display System (HMDS)
pilot helmet
This helmet, which will allow pilots jet fighters of the future generations to "see through the cockpit" aircraft. Equipment designed for fighter-bomber and the F-35 is currently being tested scientific-research department of the UK Ministry of Defense in Wiltshire.
Instead of the usual display on the dashboard computer synthesized image will be fed directly to the pilot's visors, supplying it also hints, necessary for flight, navigation and combat. In principle, the new technology was the implementation of the vision capabilities in the infrared range, that is, using the helmet the pilot can see at night. Helm allows you to automatically switch between the video modes. Actually, the plane will be able to become "transparent" to the pilot. Also, the helmet is a kind of command center: precision targeting all onboard weapons tied to the movement of the head and eyes of the pilot.
So far, only created a prototype. Development of models involved in the British company Vision Systems International and Helmet Integrated Systems Limited.
The Israeli company Elbit Systems, specializing in the development and modernization of various types of weapons, and her American partner, компания Rockwell Collins, will issue pilot's helmets for fighter aircraft F-35C. Helmets are added to the standard aircraft with 2016 of the year.
Cab F-35
Power point
F-35A and F-35C equipped with engines Pratt & Whitney F135, which is the development of F119 engine, installed on the F-22. The engine for the F-35B was developed with the participation of the Rolls-Royce Defence. According to the manufacturer, thanks to this apparatus and airframe fully armed F-35A with full tanks capable of producing maneuvers overload in 9 g.
Propulsion vertical takeoff F-35B
Wing
Wings for the F-35 Lightning II will be produced in Israel IAI plants (Israel Aerospace Industry). The contract with Lockheed Martin will be signed on 10-15 years. The contract amount - 2,5 billion. IAI has already started to build the organization conveyor F-35 wings. TO 2016 , the share of Israeli manufacturers will account for one-third of the total number of wings produced in the world for the F-35. We are talking about approximately eight hundred units per year.
Besforsazhny supersonic flight
According formally declared characteristics, The F-35 is not able to cruise flight at supersonic speeds without afterburner. However, according to vice-president of Lockheed Martin Stephen O'Brien (ang. — Stephen O’Bryan), fighter is able to perform a flight at a rate, corresponding to M = 1,2 ( that is, 1,2 times the speed of sound), during ≈240 km without turning on the afterburner.
Schematic diagram of the VTOL propulsion F-35B
Vertical takeoff and landing
fighter variant short takeoff and vertical landing (SVP) F-35B, designed for deployment on aircraft carriers, not equipped with catapults (light aircraft carriers, large landing ships), It is able to perform a vertical takeoff and.
For this engine nozzle F-35B turning down at 95 °, and behind the cockpit vertically mounted and connected with the main motor fan to create a rigid transmission lifting rod. In cruise flight, lifting the fan stops and closes doors. yaw control during hover provide additional engine nozzle, able to deviate to the left and right. For roll control of each wing console has additional nozzles, powered from the main motor. Pitch changes raznotyagom lift fan and motor.
The position of the aircraft during hover is completely controlled by the onboard computer. This can greatly simplify the management of aircraft in comparison with similar products. Besides, in an emergency computer is able to decide on the bailout much earlier human.
Vertical Rod F-35B allows for a small combat load and incomplete fuel tanks vertically take off and land. At higher loads the vertical thrust for takeoff and takeoff insufficiently carried out with a slight run-up (t. n. shorter takeoff). The same can be done and landing. In practice, due to fuel consumption in flight aircraft takeoff weight is much greater than the landing. therefore, usually, shorter takeoff runs, and vertical landing. In view of this aircraft, like F-35B, called in English literature Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft - aircraft with short takeoff and vertical landing. but, in Russian abbreviation "SKVVP" is not used, and close Stol denotes light, mainly agricultural and passenger, aircraft, designed for operation from unprepared sites. Consequently, F-35B in the Russian-language articles are often called VTOL.
nozzle F-35B design was very similar to the Yak-141 jet. This is due to the cooperation of the company Lockheed Martin and Yakovlev Design Bureau in 90th.
design schematic representation of F-35B
carrier-based
Distinctive features of the F-35C, in comparison with variants F-35A (with a standard take-off and landing) and F-35B (short takeoff and vertical landing), It is, that the fighter taking off is done with the help of a catapult, and landing on the deck of an aircraft carrier - using the arresting gear. Due to the increased loads F-35C reinforced inner structure. The rear part of the plane elements comprises, made of titanium.
The first flight of the aircraft F-35C was held in 2009 year. Compared with other options, F-35C has on 30 % greater wing area, large area and the tail control surfaces, It equipped with ailerons terminated to provide high controllability at low speeds of landing on the deck of an aircraft carrier. 3 November 2014 , during the test program, one of the prototype F-35C for the first time landed on the deck of an aircraft carrier CVN 68 Nimitz. Planting with full engagement of arrester carrier makes a third prototype F-35C (board CF-3), him on the deck of Nimitz sat fifth flight prototype F-35C (CF-board 5)).
modifications
The plane is created in the three basic embodiments:
F-35A of the Royal Netherlands Air Force
F-35A - aircraft for the US Air Force, the most technologically simple and, respectively, lightweight and cheaper version of the F-35. That it will be the basis of purchases of partner countries and the expected mass export. It has a built chetyrohstvolnoy 25mm cannon GAU-22 / A.
The first F-35 Israeli Air Force
F-35I - aircraft for the Israeli Air Force. After joining the JSF program, Israel announced plans to create a modified F-35A with a significant amount of its own production of avionics, in particular electronic warfare systems and cabin equipment, and integration into the OMS weapons of its own production. The degree of, how deep the Israeli engineers will be allowed to delve into the modification of aircraft depends primarily on the volume of purchases.
CF-35 - aircraft for Air Canada. CF-35 will differ from the American F-35A presence drogue, necessary because of the danger of operating with icy runways, and refueling in flight similar to, which is installed on the F-35B / C - with a hose, instead of the bar, adopted in the United States Air Force. Drogue parachute will be installed on versions for Norway, for the same reason.
F-35B Royal Air Force UK
F-35B - aircraft for the US Corps and the Royal British Navy Marine Corps. The main distinguishing feature - the possibility of short takeoff and vertical landing. Suspended container equipped with a 25 mm cannon GAU-22 / A. In the future, should form the basis of new air groups UDC type "America", is essentially a light aircraft carriers with disabilities for the landing and greatly enhanced, compared with the ships of the last generation of "Wasp", features Air Group. Also planned basing on aircraft carriers British class "Queen Elizabeth" and Italian aircraft carrier "Cavour".
F-35C is preparing to take off from an aircraft carrier CVN-69 “Dwight D. Eisenhower”, 3 October 2015
F-35C - aircraft for the US Navy. Variant has an increased area of the wing and empennage, allowing maneuvering at low speeds when flying with carriers. Larger wing also allows increased payload. Added a landing hook. Compared to the F / A-18C, F-35C will have twice the combat radius of action. In October 2010 , Prime Minister David Cameron announced the decision to opt for the construction of weapons of the Royal British Navy aircraft carriers instead of the F-35B version of the catapult takeoff. As reasons were called "big combat capabilities and a large range of flight at a lower price", but 9 May 2012 it was announced about the decision to go back to the plans for the purchase of F-35B. The main reason for this decision was the unwillingness to bear large costs (about 3 billion) for the modernization of aircraft carriers.
All variants are unified by 70-90 %. Besides, on the F-35 used many technological solutions, waste on the F-22. Expected, that the F-35 will begin service with 2016 of the year, when they begin to replace obsolete and aging planes USAF A-10 Thunderbolt II and F-16 2016, and AV-8B Harrier and Marine Corps F / A-18, the US Navy 2017 year.
Israeli experts planned to be installed on fighters acquired a number of additional systems from its own development in the field of avionics and weapons. Air Force Command of the IDF confirmed the name of the Israeli version of the F-35I fighter, has been selected from 1700 proposed name. The plane has been decided to call "Adir", which translates as a mighty, big, strong.
weaponry
Nomenclature: missile air-to-air AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-132 ASRAAM и AIM-120 AMRAAM, as well as the cruise missile Storm Shadow and AGM-158 JASSM. And JDAM bombs adjustable up to 910 kg, кластерные бомбы CBU-103, CBU-104 и CBU-105 WCMD (Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispencer), guided air bomb AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon and Brimstone anti-tank missiles.
In addition to the basic requirements of Australia and Norway are funding the work on adaptation to the F-35 anti-ship missile promising Naval Strike Missile (NSM), which will be known as Joint Strike Missile (JSM).
According to the manufacturer, The F-35 will be able to launch missiles and bombs adjustable from internal compartments on their maximum supersonic speeds.
Nuclear weapon
TO 2017 year, upon reaching the level of development of software and avionics block 4, The F-35 is planned to equip the tactical B61 nuclear bomb. The aircraft will be able to carry two ammunition capacity from 0,3 to 340 kT of TNT on the inside of the suspension. Initially, this request is made only to the F-35A, clear information about the other versions on this issue there. F-35A replace the F-16 fighter plane as the main carrier of tactical nuclear weapons NATO.
gun mount
Especially for the fighter-bomber F-35 created by General Dynamics chetyrohstvolnaya aircraft gun GAU-22 / A caliber 25 mm. This instrument obtained by deep modernization GAU-12 cannon, used on airplanes AV-8 Harrier II. The most noticeable difference - reducing the number of barrels from five to four, thus significantly reduce weight - about 20 kg, to reduce the volume occupied by an instrument on 20 % and improve accuracy.
In the modification F-35A instrument is installed inside the aircraft, above and slightly behind the left air intake, Ammo will be 180 shells.
For modifications of F-35B and F-35C is designed for hanging containers with ammunition 220 shells, mountable under the fuselage, at the rear. When you create a container used visibility reduction technology.
F-35A fighters will be armed missiles manufactured by Rheinmetall - 25 × 137 mm Frangible Armour Piercing (FAP), (the US Air Force are marked PGU-48 / B). Shells designed to destroy ground and air targets, including, armored. Inside PGU-48 / B is tungsten rod, which the, penetrating through the barrier, crushed into small elements, thus extending the affected area.
Exploitation
In January 2012 year in the public domain, web-resources f-16.net, has more details US Department of Defense report of November 2011 of the year, according to which the reason for the failure of all eight landings third prototype F-35C simulator on deck of aircraft carrier-based US Navy Aviation Leykhorst during the first test in August 2011 of the year (none of the eight cases, hook F-35C was not able to catch the arresting gear cables) They are serious design blunders, namely the small distance between the touch point and the hook main landing gear. During the later tests, it was absolutely not less 3 successful hooks (3 at the beginning of November 2011), it is obvious, without making major changes in the design of the aircraft is unable to secure landing on an aircraft carrier. The most probable solution, at the moment, discusses the use of elongated telescoping hook, but in that case it will be technologically difficult to secure required strength.
Comments of representatives of Lockheed Martin Corporation on the subject have been published 17 January on the news resource Defense News. program Manager, Tom Burbage confirmed serious difficulties, arising during testing 2011 of the year, but categorically rejected claims, that «F-35C will never be able to sit on the aircraft carrier", stated, that it is "obviously does not correspond to reality". According to him, the problem arose because of the serious claims to reduce radar signature - brake hook was intentionally designed compact, to completely get out in your compartment, which the, in its turn, should not stand out much in the tail section of the aircraft. Berbedj zayavil, that hook structure has required changes are made, and a new system will be ready for installation on the aircraft and tested in the second quarter 2012 of the year, Of special mention, that these changes not only require major changes F-35C construction as a whole, but will not affect the design of the brake system compartment.
Vertical landing F-35B on the deck of UDC “Uosp”
Tests on aircraft carriers
3 October 2011 , the F-35B (b / n BF-2) under the control of the lieutenant colonel Marine Corps Fred Schenk first landed on the sea located in the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp.
On the same day it was done a few takeoffs and landings on the deck, and in total for the first two days - 6 takeoffs and landings, not counting another landing on arrival to the ship.
The second plane, b / n BF-4, He joined the test 6 October.
21 October 2011 , the first of three scheduled rounds sea trial modification F-35B has been successfully completed. In total it was committed 72 take-off and landing on ship. The next time the F-35B should return to the deck 2013 year, during a series of test DT-2.
Test version for the Navy at the end of 2015 demonstrated unwillingness of the machine due to errors during the design and manufacturing.
cost of operation
The estimated long-term cost of ownership 2443 F-35 aircraft, According to analytical group at the Ministry of Defense allocated to Congress 15 April 2011 of the year, during 30 years during raids in 8000 hours per aircraft, taking into account the inflation rate may exceed 1 trillion dollars (earlier, at 2009 year it was estimated at 915 billion US dollars). Flight hour of the F-35 cost 30,7 one thousand dollars (2011), which is comparable with that of the fourth-generation fighter F-15, however, 2017 sounded 44 000. The full cost of the creation and maintenance of the aircraft to make utilization of estimates 670 millions of dollars, which is much more expensive than an equal weight of gold.
At the turn of the production 200 machines price for the F-35 will fall to 85 No mln for.
F-35B during the vertical take-off
Engine
F-135, made on the basis of F-119 to F-22. 3-CPV step with blades configured solid-cast method, 6-step KVD, combustion chamber taken at F-119, temperature before the turbine is 1654 °C, this is achieved through cooling systems and alloys of cobalt, single-stage high pressure turbine, developed based on the F-119, with twice-cooled, rotation frequency 15 000 rpm, low pressure 2-stage turbine, further afterburner with radar blokkerami.
The engine has a thrust besforsazhny 13 000 kgf, Furious at 19 500 kgf, resource from different parts of 1500 to 4000 hours.
Dimensions:
– Length 5,59m
– diameter 1,29m
– Weight 2450 kg.
Critics of the project
AT 2015, across 15 years after the first flight, new aircraft lost training battle 40-year old F-16, reason was, as stated, the refusal to deliberate stealth coating on new aircraft. In a combat situation disappearance coating recorded on the F-22.
Tests invisibility within the US defense showed visibility stealth, but too weak, to be able to use the data, but, stated, that stealth shape is designed for the US Air Defense frequency bands, but is not effective against another Russian air defense range of frequencies. There are other ways to overcome stealth technology, who are not denied in the US.
According to the independent Australian Air Power Australia analytical center, F-35 does not meet the requirements of the fifth generation fighter due to the impossibility of flying at supersonic speeds without afterburner, low thrust-to-weight ratio, relatively high ESR, and low survivability and maneuverability. In turn, representatives of Lockheed Martin announced, F-35 that is able to overcome the sound barrier without using afterburner, and speeds up to M = 1,2. It was also stated, that the results of the first full-scale test of the EPR was even lower, what was stated in the terms of reference and work on it will continue to decrease.
In a detailed article, dedicated comparative analysis capabilities Russian tactical air defense systems, S-400 "Triumph" and strike complexes F-35, Australian military analyst To. Kopp called fighter development technology strategy failed. His article also notes, that since the mid-1990s there have been qualitative changes in US combat capabilities of potential enemies Air Defense Systems (Russia, China, etc.. d.), while, both in the process of developing the F-35 key aspects of its stealth undergone significant regression.
Member of the Australian Parliament and a former military analyst Dennis Jensen suggested, that the F-35 can not compete with the latest Russian air defense. He also added, US, offering its long-standing strategic partners fighter F-35 instead of the F-22 Raptor, upodoblyayutsya seller mototsyklov, that wants to offer the buyer a scooter.
9 August 2016 , the internal memorandum was published by the Secretariat of Defense, devoted to the risks to achieve full combat readiness JSF program (F-35) which it was listed a whole range of critical issues, associated with the F-35 combat use. Among the most pressing shortcomings is the impossibility to use the built-in cannons, without significant modification gun mount and aircraft, limited opportunities in the defeat of ground moving targets, limited capabilities of night vision systems, unsatisfactory characteristics avionics sensors, etc.. d. The document provoked a heated discussion on the pages of the most prestigious international press and think tanks, including Bloomberg, Aviation Week, Popular Mechanics и др.
December 2016 , the US President-elect Donald Trump said, that the cost of the F-35 program is out of control. The company Lockheed Martin in response to criticism has invested heavily in programa to reduce the total cost of the aircraft.
In January 2017 of the year, according to a US defense publication Defense News, the representative of the Israeli Air Force Amir Eshel expressed admiration for the F-35 fighter aircraft operational capabilities. Speaking at the annual conference in Tel Aviv, Commander of the "Israeli" Air Force Gen. A. Eshel mentioned, that the activity of the Israeli Air Force in the presence of the Russian systems of the region C-400 represents a critical threat. As for the latest stealth bombers, F-35, The first pair of which was handed over by the Americans to Israel in January, something about them Eshel said as a factor, which will help maintain air superiority in the decades ahead. In its turn, speaking at the same conference, US Air Force retired Gen. Gary North, holding the position of vice-president in Lockheed Martin, also pointed out the advantages of F-35 under conditions of high threat, such as the Russian S-400.
However, an independent Israeli press expressed concern about the high cost of the development program, referring to the amount of 1,5 trillion dollars, in the absence of the operational readiness of the machine. Among the main problems was stated to software bugs avionics and weapons systems (on 2017 none of the aircraft can not use a gun in combat, a maximum of two air-to-air missiles can operate software), the risk of involvement of the bailout system for pilots, by weight which is less than 75 kilograms, disadvantage of using helmet-mounted equipment, which has such dimensions, making it difficult to even turn their heads pilots in the cockpit. Citing a detailed report director of inspection and testing of the Pentagon (DOT&E) doctor M. Gilmore, It had indicated 91 defect (Only by Category 1 and 2). The data, that the aircraft will be fully operational no earlier 2021 of the year.
78 pilots complained of severe pain during takeoff from the deck options, due to too much vibration chair, the published video can also be seen, pilots beating his head on the canopy and fall helmets. 15 PC. We were taken out of service or because of manufacturing the fuel system of the defect, 1 of vehicles accepted for operation in the army because of this defect burned.
The performance characteristics of the F-35
Dimensions F-35
F-35 Flight data
Weight F-35
F-35 armament
Photo F-35
F-35A (in front) и F-22 Raptor (behind)
F-35C и F/A-18F Super Hornet
F-35A of the Royal Norwegian Air Force
