A new era began at the U.S. Air Force Weapons School when its first F-35A Lightning II (12-5049) touched-down on the flightline here Jan. 15, flown straight from the Lockheed Martin plant in Fort Worth, Texas.
Working in conjunction with the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center and 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron, Col. Adrian Spain, USAFWS commandant, said the Weapons School's first F-35 will be used to drive tactics development and that the Weapons School's immediate goal is to create the curriculum for the first F-35 course.
The arrival and integration of the F-35 into the Weapons School is a natural evolution toward the Air Force's desired force mixture and will have far-reaching effects, explained Spain.
While the first and subsequent USAFWS-assigned F-35s will initially operate under the umbrella of the 16th Weapons Squadron, the school's F-16 squadron, Lt. Col. David Epperson, 16th WPS commander, said it's important not to template any of the current legacy aircraft - and how they execute missions - onto the F-35.
The first F-35A USAFWS student course is tentatively scheduled for January 2018.
Flyboy wrote:"The Netherlands purchased at least 37 JSFs. " is remarkable. Is this to make a mindshift to purchasing more than 37?
[ Post made via Mobile Device ]
No it has been made clear all the time from the beginning: the intention is to buy at least 37 aircraft. But depending on how much aircraft can be bought with the fixed budget, more aircraft will be bought if possible. All depending on the final price of the F-35 when they are actually purchased per lot.
The pentagon increase the number of F-35s to be purchased under LRIP-10 from 55 to 57 (44 F-35A, 9 F-35B, 4 F-35C). They will be purchased for $10.6 billion (including spares and other related equipment). The total LRIP will consist of up to 100 or more F-35 when other the orders are counted too.
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F-35 Plans
The five-year plan calls for funding 393 F-35s: the 57 in fiscal 2016, 66 in 2017, 88 in 2018, 90 in 2019 and 92 in 2020.
That reflects a slower pace, though, than previously projected. Last year, the Pentagon said it planned to buy 309 F-35s from fiscal 2016 through 2019; now that number is 301.
FIRST F-35A FOR NORWAY PROGRESSING TOWARDS DELIVERY IN FORT WORTH
FORT WORTH, Texas, Feb. 6, 2015 – Lockheed Martin and the Norwegian Ministry of Defense celebrated the beginnings of the first F-35A Lightning II for Norway this month. The aircraft, designated as AM-1, has officially begun the mate process, where major components of the aircraft are joined together to form the aircraft’s structure. AM-1 will then make its way down the assembly line and roll out of the factory for delivery to Norway in the fall of 2015.
“We are pleased and excited to see our first aircraft taking shape as planned,” said Mr. Øystein Bø, State Secretary with the Norwegian Ministry of Defense. “Together with the Norwegian-developed Joint Strike Missile the F-35 will be one of the core capabilities of our future defense structure, representing a significant increase in our combat capabilities.”
The global supply chain for the F-35 currently has seven Norwegian companies under contract building parts for the F-35. Norwegian industry is expected to gain up to $4.7 billion USD in industry opportunities over the life of the F-35 program. Every F-35 built will have Norwegian parts and components.
Lorraine Martin, Lockheed Martin F-35 Program Manager, highlighted the ongoing partnership between Lockheed Martin and Norway. “A new era in Norwegian tactical aviation began with AM-1 mating on the line,” Martin said. “Lockheed Martin is proud of our decade’s long relationship with the Norway MOD and its industry. Transitioning from the F-16 to the F-35 will only enhance this relationship for the future.”
