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What is up with the F-35? Part II

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  • Originally posted by Gun Grape View Post
    LRASM is still in testing/certification with the Navy. They were required by Congress to get on the program to fill an "Urgent Need stopgap"requirement. Its replacement is already in the works
    In the form of?

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    • Originally posted by JA Boomer View Post
      In the form of?
      OASuW Increment II

      Next Generation Land Attack Weapon. Which has a anti-ship capability
      Last edited by Gun Grape; 30 Apr 18,, 17:16.

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      • Originally posted by Gun Grape View Post
        OASuW Increment II

        Next Generation Land Attack Weapon. Which has a anti-ship capability
        I'm honestly expecting a LRASM derivative to take the cake here and finally start phasing out the Tomahawk. LRASM is already sized to fit MK 41s and has ~7ft in length available in the VLS cell to either create an elongated "ER strike" version or to just add a big ol' detachable booster/sustainer motor for the ship launched variety.

        A joint land/ship attack missile makes a lot of sense already, and commonality between ship launched and air dropped versions would further simplify logistics and bring the price down significantly when the USN orders them by the boatload. (sorry)

        The venerable Tomahawk is finally reaching the point where it's difficult to keep upgrading it effectively by dropping new electronics inside because the airframe just isn't stealthy.

        Since we're in the F-35 thread, there are a few interesting possibilities for effective teaming between F-35s and LRASM.

        LRASM has to be carried externally by F-35s, but it can be deployed at standoff ranges and pave the way for the now clean flying F-35 to follow it up with JSOWs that fit in the bays.

        A novel option is for ship launched ER variants of LRASM to accompany F-35s on the way towards the targets and rely on the aircraft's superior sensors to send them real-time targeting and flight path updates via data link.

        The F-35 already has the capability of controlling a number of drones, so why not cruise missiles? The aircraft doesn't even need to carry the missiles if they can fly themselves 1000 miles to a target while being stealthy enough not to reveal their position and give away the game. You could have a pair of F-35s controlling 20+ large missiles that can hit moving targets.

        That would allow a CSG to seriously economize on the number of aircraft required for an effective strike, which allows them to be tasked elsewhere.
        Last edited by SteveDaPirate; 30 Apr 18,, 17:55.

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        • Originally posted by Skywatcher View Post
          That bill is going nowhere, given the Pentagon's desire to exempt allied nations from the ban, and honestly, no one actually cares about that Pastor.
          unfortunate I think

          Comment


          • Originally posted by bfng3569 View Post
            unfortunate I think
            One of the things that Congress critters do by default, along with naming post offices, is generating all sorts of sundry and ridiculous foreign policy/national security bills that suffocate in committee.

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            • Originally posted by Skywatcher View Post
              One of the things that Congress critters do by default, along with naming post offices, is generating all sorts of sundry and ridiculous foreign policy/national security bills that suffocate in committee.
              no doubt, but its hard to imagine Turkey being very trustworthy.

              Comment


              • Originally posted by bfng3569 View Post
                no doubt, but its hard to imagine Turkey being very trustworthy.
                You mean, considering who's the boss now, and their new ties with Russia? Yeah, that must be turning some heads in the Pentagon...

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                • He's one of those opportunists who's easy enough to pay off once you figure out how to do so on a regular basis.

                  Witness the way he's turning on the rightist secular nationalists and going back to the non-socialist part of the Kurdish population.

                  Comment


                  • "
                    Reuters
                    TUE MAY 22, 2018 / 3:26 AM EDT
                    Israel says it is the first country to use U.S.-made F-35 in combat"

                    https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKCN1IN0ON

                    Comment


                    • As someone who has a villa in Turkey I keep a close eye on the politics there. You have to remember that Erdogan's party is an Islamist party and his ultimate goal is to make Turkey an Islamist state (with him as top dog). Unfortunately for him, there is a very large westernised population in opposition so he is taking baby steps. Since the coup, he has been tightening his grip on the country, arresting anyone with pretensions of being an intellectual. By the way, in my OPINION, the coup was so poorly executed that I believe that it was orchestrated by his own party to be doomed to failure so that he had the excuse to crack down on all opposition. Remember, that the Army has twice conducted successful coups against islamist governments so they have institutional knowledge how to conduct one properly.

                      Comment


                      • Wonder if Erdogan will still be in power after June 24th (assuming no run off)?

                        I'm surprised he called the snap election, considering what a mess the 2015 one was for the AKP.

                        But then again, like Bibi and Abe, he's just the least incompetent politician in his country.

                        Comment


                        • Originally posted by Skywatcher View Post
                          Wonder if Erdogan will still be in power after June 24th (assuming no run off)?

                          I'm surprised he called the snap election, considering what a mess the 2015 one was for the AKP.

                          But then again, like Bibi and Abe, he's just the least incompetent politician in his country.
                          I very much doubt he's going to leave the election to chance...

                          Comment


                          • I wonder what happens to the program if we decide to exclude Turkey?
                            . They are one of the 6 prime partner nations and one of the largest buyers

                            https://www.f35.com/global/participa...-participation

                            Industrial Participation
                            In total for Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney, F-35 Production Industrial Participation opportunities for Turkish companies are expected to reach more than $12 billion.

                            Below are details on the 10 Turkish companies who have supported the development and/or production of F-35 / F135.

                            • Alp Aviation has been supporting the program since 2004 and currently manufactures F-35 production airframe structure and assemblies, production landing gear components and over 100 F135 production engine parts to include titanium integrated blade rotors.
                            • Aselsan is developing manufacturing approaches for advanced optical components, which are part of the F-35 Electro Optical Targeting System. They are also working with Northrup Grumman on the F-35 CNI Avionic Interface Controller and will initiate full scale production activities in the near term.
                            • Ayesas currently is the sole source supplier for two major F-35 components – missile remote interface unit and the panoramic cockpit display.
                            • Fokker Elmo manufactures 40 percent of the F-35 Electrical Wiring & Interconnection System (EWIS) and will also deliver and support TAI with all center section wiring systems. Fokker Elmo is also developing the EWIS for the F135 engine, for which a major share is produced in Fokker Elmo Turkey in Izmir.
                            • Havelsan has been supporting the F-35 training systems since 2005. Additionally, Havelsan has been instrumental as the Turkish lead for developing the construct of the future Turkish F-35 Integrated Pilot and Maintenance Training Center (ITC) and associated training systems in Turkey.
                            • Kale Aerospace has been supporting the F-35 since 2005. In conjunction with Turkish Aerospace Industries, they manufacture and produce F-35 airframe structures and assemblies. Kale Aero also supports Heroux Devtek as the sole source supplier for all three variants landing gear up lock assemblies. Additionally, Kale Aerospace has also established a joint venture in Izmir with Pratt & Whitney and is manufacturing production hardware for the F135 engine.
                            • MiKES has supported the F-35 Program during SDD delivering F-35 aircraft components and assemblies for BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman
                            • ROKETSAN and Tubitak-SAGE are the Turkish joint leadership team who strategically manage the development, integration, and production of the advanced precision-guided Stand-off Missile (SOM-J) which will be carried internally on the 5th Generation F-35 aircraft. Additionally, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control has partnered with Roketsan, through a teaming agreement, to jointly develop, produce, market and sell the advanced, precision guided Stand Off Missile – Joint Strike Fighter (SOM-J).
                            • Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) has been strategically supporting the F-35 Program since 2008. The company currently supplies production hardware that goes into every F-35 production aircraft. In conjunction with Northrup Grumman, TAI manufactures and assembles the center fuselages, produces composite skins and weapon bay doors, and manufactures fiber placement composite air inlet ducts. Additionally, TAI is strategically manufacturing 45 percent of the F-35’s including Air-to-Ground Pylons and adapters which is Alternate Mission Equipment (AME).

                            Additionally, Turkish Industry are going to have significant Industrial Participation role supporting Lockheed Martin and Pratt and Whitney for F-35 aircraft sustainment and F135 engine production and sustainment. Turkey has been given the approval to build its own F135 engines and was also selected to have the first European Regional F135 Engine depot overhaul capability. Both the engine production and overhaul will take place at the 1st HIBM in Eskisehir. Additionally, TAI has also been assigned to represent the organic depots of the Turkish Armed Forces within the Autonomic Logistic Global Sustainment (ALGS) system and Havelsan has been assigned as the Turkish Integrator for the National Integrated Training Center (ITC).

                            Comment


                            • jlvfr. Since the state of emergency was declared, it has been the law that ID (passports for tourists) must be carried at all times. The area where we have our villa has a high level of British & Dutch ex-pats and, until recently, they were rarely if ever asked to show them.

                              That has changed in the last few weeks. The Jandama have been setting up road blocks to check the papers of all, Turkish citizens and ex-pats alike. Before, on the rare occasions you were asked for ID, it was just given a cursory glance but now, they are being taken to a portable scanned to be checked. I believe that these extra checks are to re-inforce the fact among Turks that the State of Emergency is still in place before the elections. There is little overt opposition to Ergogan in our area but during the emergency teachers, and other prominent citizens deemed to be likely opponents of the regime have been arrested without trial as supporters of Gulen, who has been accused of orchestrating the "coup".

                              Comment


                              • Originally posted by jlvfr View Post
                                I very much doubt he's going to leave the election to chance...
                                Didn't work out too well in 2015 (and the secular right wing was sort of friendly and united back then), and Mr. Najib Razak also thought he had the election in the bag.

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