The F-35 program is about to emerge from the development phase in 2017 and ramp up to manufacturing phase. They will go from 40 planes per year to at least 120 planes. Doing so may stress the various suppliers for the F-35. Even so, Northrop is ramping up their delivery of fuselages to Lockheed: they will delivery another fuselage now every 1 1/2 working days. Canada's participation in the F-35 program probably hinges on their election. The first Italian assembled F-35 took flight. Israel is building up its capabilities in anticipation of getting their F-35s.
The stealthy Franken Hornet reappeared with better pix.
The US Navy's UCLASS is still in procurement hell.
The Long Range Strike Bomber dominated Defense Secretary Carter's visit to a Boeing plant. Analysts are pointing out the obvious: the US Air Force needs more than 100 bombers (what is planned for the LRS-B) to keep parity with its current capability. The total need is supposed to be 174 new bombers. Other analysts are pointing out the real need for the LRS-B as well. Congressman Forbes is going to go after the USAF for the bomber budget discrepancies.
The US Navy's UCLASS is still in procurement hell.
The Long Range Strike Bomber dominated Defense Secretary Carter's visit to a Boeing plant. Analysts are pointing out the obvious: the US Air Force needs more than 100 bombers (what is planned for the LRS-B) to keep parity with its current capability. The total need is supposed to be 174 new bombers. Other analysts are pointing out the real need for the LRS-B as well. Congressman Forbes is going to go after the USAF for the bomber budget discrepancies.
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