Denmark’s first four locally-based F-35A fighter aircraft landed on home soil at the Royal Danish Air Force’s Fighter Wing Skrydstrup.
“As newly appointed Defense Industrial Attaché, it is a privilege to oversee the first aircraft ferry of Denmark’s new F-35 Lightning II,” said His Royal Highness Brig. Gen. Prince Joachim of Denmark.
“The F-35 is a huge step forward in technology. The arrival of the F-35 provides Denmark and the Danish Armed Forces a beacon to transform the armed forces to 5th Generation. It is a pleasure to note that this unique piece of military hardware also holds Danish industrial components and is testimony to the close ties between the United States and Denmark.”
Denmark’s program of record calls for 27 F-35A aircraft, which will be flown and maintained by the Royal Danish Air Force.
Denmark has received 10 aircraft to date, with six of these aircraft remaining at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, to support international cooperative F-35 training operations.
With the addition of Skrydstrup Air Base, F-35s are now operating from 31 bases worldwide, safeguarding the skies for allies around the globe.
They are keeping 6 cabs in the US! That’s approx 20% of their order, which seems a tad excessive, given that we are only keeping 3 cabs out of some 48(soon) out in the US.
If all the countries operating F35’s leave cabs out in the US, the numbers will rapidly total more than most countries actual orders. Just seems a tad excessive to me, although suspect that there is a very good reason for it other than test,/eval and trg!
Are we getting 48 in the first order, including a replacement, or 48-1=47?
Believe its a total of 48, which includes a replacement for said rather soggy example. Think we should have them all by late 25/early 26.
Not at current rate of delivery. Say 6 or 7 per year, considering roughly 30 delivered so far.
Just dont have the aircrew trained or the maintenance facilities and trained people. Theres also the the hold up with Lockheeds TR3 build standard isnt complete, which even US has halted deliveries
Ah yes, seem to remember @Nigel posting some info about further delays some weeks ago now.
Late27/early 28 might well be a better forecast come to think of it.
I’m not sure not having enough trained crew would be a reason to delay actually having them delivered, not sure.
I believe that all F35s are produced in production Lots, don’t know what would happen if we decided to opt out of a current Lot and wait, as I imagine that customer orders are allocated to Lots well in advance?
Hi Deep 32, TR3 sometime in 2024 at present and 2029 for block 4. These dates could change once again depending on how the debugging of the software works out.
“In addition to Block 4 costs and cooling power, the GAO report also noted that as of January 2023, the F-35 has 821 open deficiencies.
Five of those deficiencies are classified as “Category 1,” defined as “critical and could jeopardize safety, security, or another requirement.” The rest are Category 2, “those that could impede or constrain successful mission accomplishment.”
The report did not specify what the Category 1 deficiencies are but did say flight testing is needed to close them. The program office said it would address three of the Category 1 problems in 2023.
The other two require additional documentation and one will also need additional funding.
The program office “does not plan to resolve all of the Category 2 deficiencies because the program office, in consultation with the warfighters and contractors, have determined that they do not need resolution,” the GAO reported.”
UK commits to F-35 retrofits19 SEPTEMBER 2023
“The UK will bring its F-35B fleet up to the latest TR-3 Block 4 standard, the government has confirmed. (Janes/Patrick Allen)
The United Kingdom has committed to retrofit its fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning combat aircraft to the latest Technology Refresh-3 (TR-3) Block 4 standard.
Answering questions in the House of Commons on 18 September Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence (MoD), James Cartlidge, said a decision to bring the country’s fleet of aircraft up to the latest standard had been made.
“I can confirm the [MoD] intends to upgrade the UK F-35B Lightning fleet with Technology Refresh-3 [and] Block 4 modifications,” Cartlidge said.
TR-3 is a suite of hardware and software built around an L3Harris core processor, a new memory system, and an open mission systems architecture.
It includes a new cockpit display, with increased computing power being required for the upcoming F-35 Block 4 standard aircraft.”
LINK
The F-35B Lightning II which crashed in South Carolina last week after the pilot ejected, is believed to be at risk of malfunctions if it flies in thunderstorms.
The F-35A is more severely affected and cannot fly within 25 miles of lightning.The issue lies within the F-35’s OBIGGS (Onboard Inert Gas Generation) system, which pumps nitrogen-enriched air into its fuel tanks to inert them, preventing the aircraft from exploding if it is struck by lightning.
Lets hope our “all weather” F35B do not have to fly near thunderstorms until this issue is fixed
Thank you for updating me @David Lloyd.
So the monsoon season would be the best time for China to consider invading Taiwan in that case minimising even further the risk posed by the F-35.
You can see why the US is looking even more closely at drones and Australia is now considering holding off on further purchases of the F-35A in favour of the next generation of fighter aircraft.
July 26, 2023Australia Starts Looking Beyond The F-35 For Next-Gen Fighter Needs
Australia has started looking for options beyond the Lockheed Martin F-35A for its future fighter fleet, as interest in the next generation of air combat technology increasingly encroaches on funding available for existing aircraft.
Did you even read the article you shared?? Clearly not. The monsoon season would be the best time for China to invade Taiwan?? Did you get that line from a Christmas cracker?? Can your AI chat even compute that….
Robert, both myself and Lisa have asked you stop this. Why have you continued?
All fast jets types avoid thunderstorms. And If they are hit by lightning, they RTB immediately and are grounded pending engineering inspections. The F35 is not going to ‘explode’ if hit by lightning.
Cheers Nigel, I read the article about retrofitting our cabs with both TR3/Blk 4.
The thing is for the UK its all about getting the next set of weapons (S3 & Meteor) integrated on the aircraft. Therin lies the problem, as everything to do with said F35 upgrades is linked together.
TR3 requires extra cooling(approx 25% more than currently used), which requires engine upgrades – not sure where we are with that? Blk4 software upgrade is linked to TR3 being rolled out, so the earliest we could possible have our weapons integrated is when Blk 4 arrives (2029?)given that the engine upgrades to produce the extra cooling required have been successful. Its taking a while that is for sure.
The questin is, when will FOC be achiveable for Meteor & Spear 3 and where we are in the queue?
“In a statement to Defense News, the F-35 Joint Program Office said it is confident the ECU engine upgrades can “minimize” the $38 billion in costs GAO highlighted.
The ECU will restore engine life, and the [power thermal management system improvements] will ensure that the air vehicle can support future capability growth,” JPO spokesman Russ Goemaere said in an email.
GAO recommended the Pentagon order the JPO, before moving forward with the engine modernization effort, to re-evaluate its analysis of how to upgrade the F-35′s engines after the services spell out what power and cooling capabilities they will need.
“The upgrades to the engines’ core and thermal management system are expected to be fielded in the early 2030s, he said, though the exact schedule will depend on what design is ultimately approved.
However, that means the engine upgrades necessary to handle the added heat may come a few years later than the F-35 will receive its Block 4 upgrades, now projected to be finished in 2029.”
LINK
Also, what range will be required to defeat an adversary past 2035 and will it still fit inside the F-35B if more fuel is needed to give it an advantage?
Air-to-air missiles seeking longer ranges and improved capabilities
LINK
As of August 2023. We have 40 UK qualified F35 Pilots, plus 4 or 5 exchange pilots.
Good to know mate, cheers. We are slowly getting where we need to be.
Just seen on Jane’s that the UK is going to retrofit ‘its fleet of F35 aircraft’ to TR3/Blk 4 standard. Am assuming that apart from the 3 test cabs in the US, it will include all the rest!
That’s some good news. It should make maintenance a lot easier if they are all pretty much the same.
34/35 have been delivered so far. 37 by the end of 2023. 6 or 7 each year as you said and finishing by 2025 will be easy.
We had 26 pilots trained four years ago. The whole RAF training programme has gone to ratshi* since
The 6 in the US are for training, like an OCU.
Their OCU must be out in the US. Can’t think why they’d need 6 left there otherwise.
Might well be the case mate, just sounds odd else?
I know that the Germans have since the days of the Starfighter, and now more recently both the Dutch and Italians. It seems then that we are one of the few that don’t.
Better weather and massive training ranges they dont have at home
The US has instrumented training ranges the size of small EU countries in Arizona and Nevada. Along with all the aggressor resources from the USAF/USN/USMC its an unparalleled training environment. You can fly every single day too with the weather.
There were plenty of Tornado jets at Holloman I recall as an example.
The UK now has 207 Squadron OCU based in Marham.
We did have more of ours over there until our pilots got proficient.
They do need to learn to fly and AAR them before the ferry flight…..
I’d not fact trying first time AAR mid Atlantic!
Luke AFB is one massive OCU. In recent years for F16. I believe they have just passed the tipping point where the Squadrons are more F35 than F16. The first F35 arrived in 2014. Since then the progressive conversion to F35 has been a squadron every 18 months. There is a long history of non US pilot training at the base.
In this case it’s the 308th squadron which is a Dutch / Danish squadron. So all their pilot and engineering training requirements are met on base. Goldwater range is a massive live fire facility on the door step in the Senoran desert. Classrooms in the air and ground are type specific, syllabus are in place with instructors. Basically your students turn up with there belongings and begin. There is no delays in training for weather, airspace availability or restrictions. The courses begin and end on the planned dates. It’s a slick operation. When I visited there many years ago they turned out over 400 pilots a year through conversion to F16 each year. My other memory was it seemed like there was a flight simulator everywhere you went.
Wasn’t aware that the set up was so big, very interesting, thank you.
It’s difficult for us Brits to understand the scale of anything the US does. Especially their military. Luke has averaged between 12 and 15 squadrons based there over the years at any one time. Also they are proper squadrons in size of aircraft and manpower. Every six weeks a course would begin to convert pilots to F16. It was a nine month course. I expect something similar will be happening now for the 35.
Goldwater range is now split in two. USMC / USAF. East and West. The can have 50 aircraft engaged on the range at any one time. It serves and is in range without refuelling to around 12 major airstations as well as carrier based assets. My tour of the flight lines was just bewildering with the types and amounts of aircraft. The VAR Park was like visiting a major airshow. The aggressor squadrons in the area were an Airforce in there own on paper. I only seen a few aggressor aircraft in the VAR.
VIKING POWER 🇩🇰🇸🇪🇳🇴🇫🇮
Despots beware.
Russia is named after the early Viking ‘invaders’ who came down the major rivers
Rus-land – “men who row” which is how the long boats travelled the rivers
I’m fact Kiev was a major Viking settlement in the 7th century onwards!
Hope the Danish done let one fly on its own ,USMC 🇺🇸 🔭 🤔
One of those “didn’t think of that” side effects of a stealthy aircraft.
I liked working with the Dane’s, decent attitude to warfare and combat!
They make nice bacon aswell🙈
Hello, Just quick point, Upon reflection due to the Ukraine war, I wonder how many NATO countries would now order the B variant over the A, as the B variant offers more flexibility with regards to dispersal, and operating from virtually any flat top warship (like how the RAF/USMC used to deploy the GR3/AV8)? The F-35 really is an amazing aircraft and something we should be proud of, as 15% of every one of those machines is made in Britain.
Hi Ian, if you compare the B version with the Harrier 2. Then it is a significant step change in capability. The B version can do at least three roles that the Harrier really couldn’t. Which are interceptor, SEAD and deep strike. However, if you compare the F35B with say a Typhoon. Yes, it still has a number of key advantages due to its stealth and better sensor integration. However Typhoon has better range and acceleration/top speed. Which makes it a better aircraft for quick reaction alert (QRA) and doing standing long distance combat air patrols (CAP).
Looking at a “what if” NATO scenario. European based F35s don’t really need very long range. Unless they were required to do very deep strikes into Russia. Which realistically would be done using air launched stand-off weapons.
However, the caveat is that the B’s two bomb bays are shallower than those of the A and C. Which means the B can’t carry large weapons internally. So they have to be carried under the wings. This will increase the aircraft’s all important radar cross section (RCS). Thereby making it more visible to radar sooner.
For smaller Countries with small F35 fleets, it doesn’t make economical sense to have two F35 variants. This is due to the additional logistical footprint, along with the necessary variant training for Pilots and Maintainers.
It remains to be seen if the F35B can deploy from austere sites like the Harrier did? It generates significantly more heat and thrust, than the Pegasus powered Harrier. So the temporary aluminum alloy matting used for making taxiways and take-off/landing areas, will probably not be up to it, requiring a better material design. However from a main operating base with a long concrete runway and taxiways that have been damaged by missile strikes. The F35B has the option of doing very short take-offs, clearly depending on the length of the undamaged section. But if the sections are long enough, then the aircraft could still operate at max-all up weight, with a full load of fuel and weapons.
Sadly, it’s not an easy answer. Russia are now actively targeting Ukrainian airfields, especially those that are long enough to operate Su-24s that can carry Storm Shadow/Scalp. They are using a combination of weapons ranging from Iskander, Kaliber and suicide drones. So the effects on the airfield are varied.
If we were in a similar position to Ukraine. I would fully expect our F35s to deploy to old airfields, but also use our road network.
“For smaller Countries with small F35 fleets, it doesn’t make economical sense to have two F35 variants. This is due to the additional logistical footprint, along with the necessary variant training for Pilots and Maintainers.”
Unless they keep the OCU airframes as the B version.
F-35B can take-off and land conventionally just like A and C versions. So it’s makes sense to train all Pilots on the B version.
If the UK were to procure some F-35’c the pilots would still train in 207 Squ. using F-35b in conventional mode only.