Joint Strike Fighter program
Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) | |
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General information | |
Project for | Strike Fighter |
Issued by | Multiple services |
Prototypes | Boeing X-32 Lockheed Martin X-35 |
History | |
Outcome | X-35 selected for production as F-35 Lightning II |
Predecessors | Common Affordable Lightweight Fighter (CALF) Joint Advanced Strike Technology |
Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is a development and acquisition program intended to replace a wide range of existing
Project formation
The JSF program was the result of the merger of the Common Affordable Lightweight Fighter (CALF) and Joint Advanced Strike Technology (JAST) projects.[3][4] The merged project continued under the JAST name until the engineering, manufacturing and development (EMD) phase, during which the project became the Joint Strike Fighter.[5]
The CALF was a
The Joint Advanced Strike Technology (JAST) program was created in 1993, implementing one of the recommendations of a
In November 1995, the United Kingdom signed a memorandum of understanding to become a formal partner, and agreed to pay $200 million, or 10% of the concept demonstration phase.[5]
In 1997, Canada's Department of National Defence signed on to the Concept Demonstration phase with an investment of US$10 million. This investment allowed Canada to participate in the extensive and rigorous competitive process where Boeing and Lockheed Martin developed and competed their prototype aircraft.[10]
JSF competition
Studies supporting JAST/JSF started in 1993 and led to STOVL submissions to the DOD by McDonnell Douglas, Northrop, Lockheed and Boeing:[11]
- McDonnell Douglas proposed an aircraft powered by a reheated turbofan, with a remote gas-driven fan to augment lift in the STOVL mode. Later, General Electric did a ground demonstration of this engine configuration.
- The Northrop aircraft featured an auxiliary lift engine augmenting the dry thrust from a reheated turbofan fitted with a pair of thrust-vectoring nozzles.
- The Lockheed aircraft concept used a reheated turbofan with thrust augmentation from a remote shaft-driven lift fan. This engine configuration was to lead eventually to the F-35BJSF production aircraft.
- Boeing decided against thrust augmentation. They proposed an aircraft powered by a reheated turbofan that could be reconfigured (in the STOVL mode) into a direct lift engine with a pair of thrust-vectoring nozzles located near the aircraft center-of-gravity. This led to the X-32B JSF demonstrator.
Two contracts to develop prototypes were awarded on November 16, 1996, one each to Lockheed Martin and Boeing.[12] Each firm would produce two aircraft to demonstrate conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL), carrier takeoff and landing (CV version), and short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL). McDonnell Douglas' bid was rejected in part due to the complexity of its design.[13] Lockheed Martin and Boeing were each given $750 million to develop their concept demonstrators and the definition of the Preferred Weapon System Concept (PWSC). The aim of this funding limit was to prevent one or both contractors from bankrupting themselves in an effort to win such an important contract.[4]
Also in 1996, the UK
During concept definition, two Lockheed Martin airplanes were flight-tested: the X-35A (which was later converted into the X-35B), and the larger-winged X-35C.[14] Arguably the most persuasive demonstration of the X-35's capability was the final qualifying Joint Strike Fighter flight trials, in which the X-35B STOVL aircraft took off in less than 500 feet (150 m), went supersonic, and landed vertically – a feat that Boeing's entry was unable to achieve.[15]
Outcome
The contract for System Development and Demonstration (SDD) was awarded on 26 October 2001 to Lockheed Martin,[16] whose X-35 beat the Boeing X-32. One of the main reasons for this choice appears to have been the method of achieving STOVL flight, with the Department of Defense judging that the higher performance lift fan system was worth the extra risk. When near to the ground, the Boeing X-32 suffered from the problem of hot air from the exhaust circulating back to the main engine, which caused the thrust to weaken and the engine to overheat.[15]
The
Program issues
Alleged Chinese espionage
In April 2009, the
The state-run Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has been alleged to incorporate the data into China's Chengdu J-20 and Shenyang FC-31 fighters.[21][22][23]
Cost overruns
On February 1, 2010, Secretary of Defense
On 11 March 2010,
Canada reviewed their commitment to the project in December 2012, due to the cost overruns. The decision was made following a report by auditing firm KPMG that showed that Canada's purchase would cost C$45bn over 42 years. Rona Ambrose, Canada's public works minister said: “We have hit the reset button and are taking the time to do a complete assessment of all available aircraft.”[28] Defence Minister Peter MacKay announced Canada's plan to buy the F-35 in 2010 saying that the purchase price was $9 billion, but did not provide operating cost estimates. During an election campaign in 2011, the Conservatives declared that the total cost over 20 years would be $16 billion.[29] On 19 October 2015 the Liberal Party of Canada under Justin Trudeau won a majority in part on a campaign promise to not purchase the F-35, but instead "one of the many, lower-priced options that better match Canada's defence needs".[30][31]
Performance concerns
Concerns about the F-35's performance have resulted partially from reports of simulations by RAND Corporation in which three regiments of Chinese Sukhoi Su-27 fighters defeat six F-22s by denying tanker refueling.[32]
As a result of these media reports, then Australian defence minister Joel Fitzgibbon requested a formal briefing from the Australian Department of Defence on the simulation. This briefing stated that the reports of the simulation were inaccurate and that it did not compare the F-35's performance against that of other aircraft.[33][34]
Andrew Hoehn, Director of RAND Project Air Force, made the following statement: "Recently, articles have appeared in the Australian press with assertions regarding a war game in which analysts from the RAND Corporation were involved. Those reports are not accurate. RAND did not present any analysis at the war game relating to the performance of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, nor did the game attempt detailed adjudication of air-to-air combat. Neither the game nor the assessments by RAND in support of the game undertook any comparison of the fighting qualities of particular fighter aircraft."[35]
Furthermore, Maj. Richard Koch, chief of USAF Air Combat Command's advanced air dominance branch is reported to have said that "I wake up in a cold sweat at the thought of the F-35 going in with only two air-dominance weapons" with an Aviation Week article casting an extremely skeptical eye over the (USAF) source of claims that the F-35 would be "400% more effective" than projected opponents.[36]
The experience of the JSF program has led to a more conservative and open-ended Future Vertical Lift program.[37]
See also
- Advanced Tactical Fighter
- Joint Combat Aircraft
- Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems
- Fifth-generation fighter
- Sixth-generation fighter
References
- ^ Mehta, Aaron (17 July 2019). "Turkey officially kicked out of F-35 program, costing US half a billion dollars". Defense News. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ "Joint Strike Fighter – DOD Actions Needed to Further Enhance Restructuring and Address Affordability Risks" (PDF). United States Government Accountability Office. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
- ^ A history of the Joint Strike Fighter Program Archived 2010-12-30 at the Wayback Machine, Martin-Baker. Retrieved April 2011
- ^ a b Nicholls, Mark (August 2000). "JSF: The Ultimate Prize". Air Forces Monthly. Key Publishing: 32–38.
- ^ a b "US, UK sign JAST agreement". Aerospace Daily. McGraw-Hill. 25 November 1995. p. 451.
- ^ a b Wilson, George C. "The engine that could Archived 2013-10-19 at the Wayback Machine" GovExec, January 22, 2002. Retrieved December 2009. Archived on 19 October 2013.
- ^ "Propulsion system for a vertical and short takeoff and landing aircraft" Archived 2012-02-25 at the Wayback Machine, United States Patent 5209428
- ^ Bolkcom, Christopher. JSF: Background, Status, and Issues page CRS-2, dtic.mil, 16 June 2003. Retrieved: 18 September 2010.
- ^ "Prices soar, enthusiasm dives for F-35 Lightning."
- ^ [1] Archived 2011-02-11 at the Wayback Machine. "Government of Canada" 16 July 2010 Retrieved: 26 July 2010
- ^ "1995 | 0834 | Flight Archive". www.flightglobal.com. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016.
- ^ Bolkcom, Christopher (17 February 2009). "F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program: Background, Status, and Issues". apps.dtic.mil. Defense Technical Information Center. Archived from the original on 1 June 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
- ^ Fulghum, David; Morrocco, John (25 November 1996). "Final JSF Competition Offers No Sure Bets". Aviation Week and Space Technology. McGraw-Hill. p. 20.
- ^ "Joint Strike Fighter official site – History page". Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2007.
- ^ a b c PBS: Nova transcript "X-planes"
- ^ Bolkcom, Christopher. JSF: Background, Status, and Issues page CRS-4, dtic.mil, 16 June 2003. Retrieved: 18 September 2010.
- ^ "US removes Turkey from F-35 fighter jet programme". BBC News. 17 July 2019.
- Seattle Times, April 7, 2009, p. 1.
- ^ Gorman, Siobahn; Cole, August; Dreazen, Yochi (21 April 2009). "Computer Spies Breach Fighter-Jet Project". The Wall Street Journal. Evan Perez contributed to this article. Dow Jones & Company. Archived from the original on 15 January 2015.
- ^ Mount, Mike (21 April 2009). "Hackers stole data on Pentagon's newest fighter jet". CNN. Eric Marrapodi contributed to this report. Archived from the original on 24 April 2009 – via cnn.com.
- ^ "Stolen F-35 secrets now showing up in China's stealth fighter". Fox News. 20 December 2015 [First published March 13, 2014].
- ^ "New Snowden Documents Reveal Chinese Behind F-35 Hack". The Diplomat. 27 January 2015.
- ^ "America says China's fifth-generation jet fighter J-31 stolen from its F-35". The Economic Times. 13 November 2015.
- Washington Post, February 2, 2010, p. 4.
- ^ Reed, John, "Pentagon Official Confirms 1-Year Delay For JSF", DefenseNews.com, February 16, 2010.
- ^ a b Shachtman, Noah. "The Air Force Needs a Serious Upgrade" Archived 2010-10-08 at the Wayback Machine, The Brookings Institution, 15 July 2010.
- ^ a b JSF faces US Senate grilling, australianaviation.com.au 12 March 2010.
- ^ "Canada puts JSF on ice". Financial Times. 13 December 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
- ^ "Canada Reviews Plans to Buy F-35 Fighter Jets". New York Times. 12 December 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
- ^ "Justin Trudeau pledges 'real change' as Liberals leap ahead to majority government". cbc.ca. 20 October 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
- ^ Liberal Party of Canada (5 October 2015). "A New Plan For a Strong Middle Class" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 October 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
- ^ Trimble, Stephen. "US defence policy – and F-35 – under attack." Flight International, Reed Business Information, 15 October 2008.
- ^ "Fighter criticism 'unfair' and 'misrepresented'." ABC News, 25 September 2008. Retrieved: 30 October 2008.
- ^ Wolf, Jim. "Air Force chief links F-35 fighter jet to China." reuters.com, 19 September 2007. Retrieved: 3 July 2010.
- ^ Hoehn, Andrew. "Statement Regarding Media Coverage of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter." RAND, 12 October 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ^ Sweetman, Bill. "JSF Leaders Back In The Fight." aviationweek.com, 22 September 2008. Retrieved: 3 July 2010.
- ^ Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. "Future Vertical Lift: One Program Or Many?" Breaking Defense, 5 June 2014. Accessed: 22 June 2014. Archived on 6 June 2014.
- Keijsper, Gerald. Lockheed F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Pen & Sword Aviation, 2007. ISBN 978-1-84415-631-3.
- Spick, Mike, ed. Great Book of Modern Warplanes. MBI, 2000. ISBN 0-7603-0893-4.
External links
External images | |
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Official JSF program videos |
- F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF)
- "Battle of the X-Planes." NOVATV documentary, 4 February 2003.