F-35 Lightning II
RAF 617 Squadron, the first to be re-equipped with the F-35B, reached initial operational readiness in early January 2019, in the following months of this year the unit will increase the number of aircraft and begin intensive training, including over continental Europe.
The Lockheed Martin F-5 Lightning II, the 35th generation multirole combat aircraft, has evoked, evoked, and will evoke emotion for years to come. This is due to issues related to its development, program cost, export or current operation and combat use. All this means that already this year there are many new events related to this program that deserve wider discussion on the pages of Wojska i Techniki.
Because of the many topics that need to be discussed, they are organized by continent - the F-35 is already a global product with a chance to dominate the western world's multi-role combat aircraft market for years to come.
Europe
On January 10, the British Ministry of Defense announced that the Royal Air Force's Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II aircraft had reached initial operational readiness. The RAF is the fifth air force to announce such a decision so far (after the US Air Force, US Marine Corps, Hel HaAvir and Aeronautica Militare). The ceremony took place at Markham Air Base, where nine aircraft of this type, belonging to the 617 Squadron of the Royal Air Force, are currently deployed. Over the next few years, the F-35B is set to become one of the RAF's two primary combat aircraft - along with the Eurofighter Typhoon - filling the gap left by the Panavia Tornado GR.4 attack aircraft, which is currently being retired. For the next few months, British Lightning IIs are to operate primarily from ground bases. Only next year is it planned to fully adapt them to be based on aircraft carriers, including through the ongoing training of pilots and technical staff. For this reason, HMS Queen Elizabeth's maiden combat voyage, scheduled for the Mediterranean, Indian and Pacific Oceans, will be flown with USMC aircraft on board.
The F-35Bs stationed at Marham have already completed their first exercise with their allies, the Americans and the French. This year, as more vehicles are delivered, it is planned to expand training projects, mainly through participation in exercises over continental Europe. In January, the Air Force officially operated 16 F-35Bs. Nine of them are located in Marham and the rest in the United States, where they are used for training, research and development.
On January 25, it became clear that Switzerland was the new direction for the F-35 to advance on the Old Continent. The authorities of the country have published a list of bidders who, together with their governments (G2G formula), have submitted preliminary bids for the sale of new generation multi-purpose combat aircraft. Contrary to the previous procedure, which ended with the cancellation of plans to purchase the JAS-39E / F Gripen in 2014, Lockheed Martin launched its latest F-35A product to fight for the Swiss order. The requirement is estimated at a maximum of 40 aircraft, and the selection of a supplier should take place in mid-2020. Operational tests, as well as a performance assessment, a proposed logistics system, or proposals for cooperation with local industry should be an important element of the selection. Tests of the F-35 in Switzerland are scheduled for June.
This year also sees a significant acceleration of the F-35A program for the Netherlands. By the end of last year, Koninklijke Luchtmacht had two test vehicles, while assembly lines in Fort Worth and Camery were building operational aircraft. The first of them (AN-3) was officially handed over on January 30 of this year. Over the following weeks, five Dutch F-35As were flown in Fort Worth (last February 21) - all vehicles for this user will be assembled in the USA. Starting with An-8, all of them will be delivered from Cameri. So far, the Dutch, despite the announcements in the media, have not dared to announce the extension of the contract for the F-35 beyond the 37 copies already ordered.
Asia
The day is fast approaching when F-35As will be permanently flown to the Korean Peninsula. What is connected with the flight planned for March to the base of the first two machines for the Air Force of the Republic of Korea. In total, in March 2014, Seoul ordered 40 aircraft - at the moment, Lockheed Martin has produced six, which are located at the Luke base, where they are used for training. The first South Korean pilots arrived in the US at the end of 2017, and the first flights were made in July 2018. According to current plans, two F-35As will be delivered to the Republic of Korea every month. Their flights will be provided by refueling aircraft belonging to the US Air Force, and two stops are planned along the way - in Hawaii and Guam. Once deployed for operational use, they will become an important component of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's deterrence and first strike system.
On January 18, Asian media reported on new developments related to the F-35 in other Asian countries, including Japan and Singapore. The first country is still planning to increase the number of ordered cars. The new contract should cover even 105 aircraft in versions A (65) and B (40). The latter will become part of the Izumo-class destroyer air group, making Japan the largest export customer for the F-35 with 147 orders. Interestingly, representatives of the Japan Self-Defense Forces reported that all vehicles from the new batch will be delivered from Fort Worth, and not from the assembly line in Japan (38 of the 42 F-35As ordered so far will be assembled on it). The reason for this is the higher price of licensed aircraft than aircraft from Fort Worth. According to some press releases, the price difference will be as high as $33 million per copy!
Also on January 18 this year. The Singapore Ministry of Defense has announced that it wants to buy an undisclosed version of the F-35. Leaks so far indicate that the Singaporeans are interested in a version of the F-35B with a short takeoff and vertical landing. The step described above will start the process of replacing the F-16C / D Block 52, the operation of which (despite the ongoing modernization) should end in the 30s. The first batch is to cover four vehicles with the possibility of eight more to be used for research and testing purposes. Singaporeans, most likely, do not fully believe the information about the characteristics of the car, provided by the Americans officially. It remains unclear how the US administration will respond to the above requirement, consent to which is a formal requirement of the FMS procedure.
