Friday, March 11, 2016

Stealth Saga #36

FCAS:

Aviation Week has another bit of coverage on the Anglo French stealthy UCAV project.   It is behind a paywall though.


UCLASS/RAQ-25/MQ-XX:

The US Navy is shedding the RAQ-25 designation for the Stingray tanker.  The Stringray will be redesignated as an MQ-25 for the RFP.  The stealth aspect will be scaled back and the payload increased.  I'd speculate this will be a S-3 payload equivalent.  The Navy is hitting the gas on the project:  A flyoff is expected in 2018, along with the contract award and the MQ-25 will on deck in 2021. 

TFX:

Procurement debates are delaying the Turkish TFX fighter program.

ATD-X/X-2:

Japan's ATD-X/X-2 continues to do well in the taxi testing. Maiden flight is imminent.

PAK-FA:

Supposedly three more prototypes of the PAK-FA are to be delivered shortly (see the six gen below).  Apparently, there are four current prototypes and two test beds only.

Sixth Generation Fighters:

Russia keeps stating they are working on their 6th gen fighter.

The US Air Force has revealed they want the F-X 6th Gen fighter on time and within budget rather than restarting the F-22 line. The US Navy is starting the analysis of alternatives for their Sixth Gen FA-XX.

B-21:

Sen McCain is pushing for a fixed price contract for the B-21 development instead of the price plus fee.  The USAF has made it clear cancelled the current contract would incur not only a recompete with the costs associated but also a $300 million penalty to be paid to Northrop.

The USAF has kicked off the naming contest for the B-21.

Likewise, they have named some of the contractors working on the bomber.

Something folks are having a hard time getting over is the fact the B-21 looks a lot like the B-2.   Many are even calling it the B-21.

The head of the F-35 program believes that with the ramping up of the B-21 program will cause the F-135 engine prices to drop.  This is probably because the F-135 shares tech with the B-21's engine.  Multiple sources have stated the ADVENT engine uses a -135 core.

B-2:

3 B-2s were sent to Diego Garcia to act as a deterrent to China.

F-35:



Congress is fine with giving the USAF more F-35s and is hinting it wants to restart the F-22 line. (see sixth gen above)

The F-35 will be showing up at air shows around the world this year. 

The F-35 had a problem in flight where the AESA radar had to be rebooted.  Some are saying that's the least of the problems for the F-35.

The F-35 isn't even in service yet and the USAF is looking at modernization in the 2020 to 2025 time frame.  Lockheed is working on new sensors for the F-35.

The ALIS logistics system will not be ready in time, or at least probably not, for the projected Air Force IOC.

META:

Rumor has it that Bill Sweetman is leaving Aviation Week to go work at Northrop.

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