Stealth Saga #59

ATD-X/X-2/F-3:

The proposed F-3 fighter is planned to be bigger than the F-22.

FC-31:

More on the new testing.

An a bit more: the Chinese are reportedly offering the FC-31 for $70 million (vs F-35 for $105M).

And more still.  Jane's states there are significant changes.

And one last one.

J-20:

The J-20 program is being called the most complicated and riskiest program for China yet.

PAK-FA:

Russia is claiming it will declare IOC (or russian equivalent) for the PAK-FA in 2017.

Some think the Russians are exaggerating the PAK-FA's capabilities.

Sixth Generation Fighter:

Why Russia and China should fear the US Sixth Generation Fighters.

B-21 Raider:

Will the B-21 bring new stealth tech to the light?

F-117:

In 1986, Reagan offered Thatcher (and Britain, dur) the then very secret F-117 stealth fighter.  Britain, obviously, declined.

F-22:

Lockheed just won a $61M sustainment contract for the F-22.

F-22 & F-35:

A nice side by side comparison of the F-22 and F-35 when they fly in formation at RIAT.

F-35:

Some are stating the F-35 may never be combat ready.

Lockheed's CEO has committed to driving down the price of the F-35.

Lockheed won a $450M contract for the F-35.

Soon-to-be President Trump's sniping at the F-35 is threatening the program.

Trump's proposal to replace the F-35 with an upgraded F/A-18E/F is met with derision.

Counter Stealth:

Supposedly, the new E-2 Hawkeye can detect stealth aircraft.

META:

War on the Rocks looks at the future of air superiority.

Stealth Saga #57

Avenger:

General Atomics did its first flight of the extended range Avenger UCAV.

ATD-X/X-2/F-3:

Japan's X-2 proof of concept stealth fighter is being readied for MoD tests.

Some are suggesting Japan step up defense cooperation with Taiwan, including in the X-2 aircraft.

FCAS:

Spain wants a family of systems to replace the F/A-18s it has. 

J-20:

Some are claiming China will have a dozen J-20s declared having reached IOC by the end of the year.  Perhaps next year, I'd think, but I doubt in 2016.

KF-X:

South Korea is seeking to procure more technologies from the US for its KF-X 5th gen aircraft.

PAK-FA:

Russia claims to be developing a new anti radiation (radar killer) missile for the PAK-FA. 

A new engine is being designed for the PAK-FA.   

The Indian variant of the PAK-FA, the FGFA, is claimed to be superior to the Chinese J-20 and Russia thinks it will have the FGFA deal signed by January first.

Sixth Generation Fighters:

The next gen US 'fighter' aircraft are the programs to watch in 2017.

F-22:

F-22s had a weapon systems problem that impacted its stealthiness that has been fixed.

F-35:

McCain has stated the unilateral contract for the F-35 is demonstrating how broken the defense procurement establishment is.

The F-35 program is probably too big for even Trump to kill if he wanted to.

Is the F-35 program's development being cut short?

The developmental F-35s built early in the program are going to need a service life extension due to heavy testing and use.

The F-35 MRO work overseas has been outlined.  RUAG Australia made the list.

Repairs to F-35 insulation have been completed and the affected aircraft returned to flight.

The USMC is investigating the weapon's bay fire on one of its F-35Bs.

The USMC conducted trials of the F-35B on the USS America, one of its jeep carriers.   12 F-35Bs were aboard during the tests.

The USMC will deploy the USS Wasp as a Sea Control Ship with F-35Bs to relieve pressure on the USN's supercarriers in 2017.

Congress' final budget is leaving out the extra 11 F-35s asked for by the Pentagon.

Canada canceled its procurement of F-35s and ordered F/A-18Es.  However, it will remain in the F-35 program and remaining a part of the program is being questioned.  Is it really flipping off the Lightning?

Responses to Finland's RFI for the replacement of their F/A-18s including the F-35.

Israel has ordered 17 more F-35Is.  This brings the total on order for Israel to 50.

The first F-35Is will be arriving in Israel on December 12.

Japan has had its first F-35 delivered.

Poland is postponing it procurement of a 5th gen fighter (probably F-35) to replace its old MiGs and Sukhois.  

Turkey is expecting its first two F-35s in 2018.

Stealth Saga #56

Cloud Shadow UCAV:

China has unveiled its Cloud Shadow UCAV.  This UCAV is a parallel to the General Atomics Avenger.

Chinese Stealth Bomber:

There is speculation on the bomber and the number of engines it will have.

FC-31/J-31:

Despite the appearance of the J-20 at the Zhuhai airshow, the FC-31/J-31 was largely absent other than a display model.  AVIC officials did not discuss the status of the FC-31 (or J-20) with journalists.

New details about the FC-31 have emerged: it seems a second, improved prototype is being constructed.


J-20:

The Chinese J-20 stealth fighter has debuted with a new camo pattern.

The inside of the J-20 weapons' bay has been seen.  Now we hae an idea of what the Chinese plan for their new fighter.

A pair of J-20 did a flyby at the Zhuhai airshow and gets profiled a lot.  The J-20 is known as the 'Mighty Dragon.'

China may be working on a larger version of the J-20.

Aviation Week wonders just how stealthy the J-20 is.

The J-20 unveil was meant as a  display of Beijing's firepower.

Some are questioning just how good the J-20 is since Beijing keeps ordering Russian 4th gen fighters.

PAK-DA:

Russia claims it will unveil the PAK-DA in 2018 and have its first flight in 2023.

PAK-FA:

The PAK-FA testing is done and will start being procured by the Russian Aerospace Forces.  However, the first batch is only 5.  The Russians have stated they will only be buying 20 to 25 per year.

The PAK-FA will be tested with its final engines in 2017, supposedly.

Russia is rolling out a 9th PAK-FA prototype for testing.

The PAK-FA derivaive for India, the FGFA, is back to the discussion table between the Russians and Indians.

Simorgh:

Iran's test site for its RQ-170 derivatives has been geolocated.

X-2/ATD-X/F-3:

Japan's military scientists and engineers are to start testing the X-2.

It is becoming crunch time to decide on the F-3 or not for Japan.

Mitsubishi & Lockheed have teamed for the F-3.

Combat Support Unmanned Aircraft:

Japan is seeking to create a program for drone/UCAVs to accompany its F-3 fighters much like the American 'Loyal Wingman' project.

Sixth Generation Fighter/Penetrating Counter Air:

Boeing released its latest concept for the PCA/6th gen fighter.

We have three different takes on what the sixth gen fighter will look like and what capabilities it will have.

The US Air Force Advisory Board will be reviewing the Penetrating CounterAir program.

Northrop was awarded a contract for a beam director for a laser weapon for fighters.

X-32:

WiB takes a look at the war pigeon, ahem, Boeing losing design to the F-35 in the JSF program.

B-21:

B-2 pilots have stated the B-21 ought to remain a manned aircraft.

Some of the details of the Boeing protest over the contract being awarded to Northrop have been revealed.

Northrop won the contract primarily on cost.

F-22:

32 F-22s were moved out of the path of Hurricane Matthew.  

Moscow claims it could shoot down F-22s in Syria.  Others are skeptical because the F-22 was designed with those systems in mind.

F-35:

A fix for the insulation problems on some of the F-35As is nigh.    In fact, two have been returned to service.  Norway's F-35s are returning to flight.

The F-35 software update is hopefully going to silence the ALIS critics.

BAe is getting a contract to develop a new software to automatically adapt to new radar threats and jam them for the F-35.

During a recent exercise, F-35 avionics caused a problem because radars were not within the threat parameters and they were dismissed.

The Pentagon just awarded $743 million to Lockheed in support of the Lot 9 procurement of the F-35.  The supplier deal suggests the LRIP 9 & 10 contracts are nigh.  The LRIP 9 contract was awarded: $6.1 billion for 57 F-35s: 42 F-35As, 13 F-35Bs and 2 F-35Cs.  However!  The contract as a unilateral award meaning the gov got tired of negotiating with Lockheed and just stated this is how much they are going to pay, take it or leave it.  Lockheed is not happy and might sue.  LRIP 10 is still not done being negotiated.

US DOD is starting up the global support network for the F-35.

The F-35 was a major profit driver for Lockheed.

The F-35 capable USS Wasp is being deployed to Japan in support of the F-35B squadron to be based there.

The USMC is looking at teaming unmanned platforms with the F-35B.

A F-35B had a fire in its weapon's bay.  An investigation has started.

Israel wants FOC for its F-35Is ASAP.

Norway is looking to buy 12 more F-35s in a block.

Turkey has placed a second order for F-35s pulling forward its first two aircraft to 2018 instead of 2021.

META:

Some are still unhappy with US aircraft.

Stealth Saga #50

MQ-25 Stingray:

The USN has made it official that the new tanker drone will be the MQ-25a Stingray instead of CBARS.

Fifth Generation Fighters:

Why the 5th gen is so critical to aerial combat these days.

TFX:

Pakistan may be interested in buying the Turkish TFX fighter.

ATD-X/X-2/F-3:

Boeing and Lockheed are turning out to be rivals over the Japanese F-3 fighter program.

J-20:

More J-20s have started appearing on the flight line.

PAK-DA:

WiB argues, rightly, its highly unlikely the next Russian bomber will be a near space, hypersonic monster as described by the Russian media.

 The National Interest is also mocking the Russian media's pronouncements.

However, the Russians might actually be trying to get the Chinese to buy into the program.

PAK-FA:

Russia continues to claim to be testing sixth gen fighter components on the PAK-FA prototype 5th gen fighters.

WiB claims the PAK-FA is roughly comparable to the F-22.

B-21:

The USAF has not decided on how many B-21s it will need and will not do so until after the aircraft is done with development.  The reason being the global situation in the 2020s may be better  than now...or worse.

F-22:

What does the F-22 look like through a thermal imaging system?

F-35:

The USAF is comfortable with sending the F-35A to war by year's end.

The modifications to the F-35A so the USAF can declare IOC are complete.

The USMC sees the Small Diameter Bomb II as a priority upgrade to the F-35. 

The F-35 deployments to Britain as part of the airshows have been testing ALIS, the software for maintenance. 

Israel is considering buying the F-35B.

Elbit Systems is looking to provide training systems for the F-35.

Will the Turkish coup attempt cause a problem in the F-35 program?  However, Lockheed has confirmed the F-35s for Turkey are in the early stages of production.

The British airshows have been welcome PR for the F-35.

WiB still hates the F-35.

ATAC calls the F-35B very 'Raptor-ish' in how it fights air to air. 

Here are some photos of the F-35B at the Red Flag exercise.

Lockheed has stated the F-35 is underfunded and apparently its cash flow is hurt by the delays in the negotiations for the next batches of F-35s.

META:

British Aerospace has developed a laser sensor for determining air speed, doing away with the pivot tube.

Stealth Saga #48

FC-31/J-31:

 

A new prototype of the J-31/FC-31 may have been spotted being transported by truck like the first was in China.

ATD-X/X-2/F-3:

Japan considers air superiority fighters to be the most important. 

PAK-FA:

Sukhoi has stated the testing for the T-50/PAK-FA is nearly complete.  

The testing may be only the first round.

The first deliveries of the PAK-FA to the Russian Aerospace Forces is set to be in 2018. 

Sixth Generation Fighters:

The US Air Force is seeking to reprogram almost $24 million to work on the 'next generation air dominance' platform.

F-22:

The most up to date F-22s are fighting in Syria.

SecAF James is NOT thrilled with the idea of restarting the F-22 line.

F-35:

Sharing data with allies on the F-35 presents problems for the US.

The USAF is hinting IOC for the F-35A may come faster than people expect.

Russia claims its 'Sunflower radar' can detect the F-35.

The first F-35A has flown to Britain.

USMC F-35Bs have been cleared for flight at Farnborough.

Video of the F-35As and F-35Bs crossing to Britain for the airshows.

Video of the F-35 taking off in Britain.

Construction programs are going to make it tough for the F-35s in Britain. 

The F-35s are showing off well at the British airshows currently.

Some pontificate on the import.

The next at sea qualifications for the F-35B will take place in October before being tested aboard the Queen Elizabeth class.

The British are about to start training F-35 pilots.

Lockheed is warning Canada about its industrial participation if Canada does not buy the F-35. 

Some are not so sure the F-35 is a good idea to say the least.

The F-35 faces an uphill fight for international sales past the current partners.

Pratt & Whitney got a $1.5 billion contract for F-35 engines.

Stealth Saga #47

FCAS:

Airbus is studying a manned replacement for the Tornado.

F-3:

Japan has started engaging industry on the F-3 fifth generation fighter program.  Rumors are they are seeking a J-20 sized aircraft.

Japan is considering a $40 billion tender for the F-3 in mid-July.

Sixth Generation Fighters:

Russia is considering an unmanned sixth generation fighter. 

The USAF just awarded two $1 billion contracts for the next generation fighter engine as a prelude to its sixth generation fighter efforts (more).

B-21:

The USAF remains adamant the B-21 cost must remain classified.

F-22:

Some beautiful pix of the F-22 in action.

The 23rd F-22 pilot has reached 1,000 flight hours.

The F-22's engineering building was sold by Lockheed to Georgia Tech.

F-35:

The F-35A IOC remains on track, or so sayeth the US Air Force.

The F-35 demonstrated a 8:0 kill ratio against the F-15E in a recent exercise.

There have been no software issues with the Mountain Home AFB deployment of the F-35.

The Pentagon is weighing a replacement ejection seat for the F-35.

In September, a F-35 will demonstrate targeting for a SM-6 ship based SAM.

The Pentagon is seeking to do a smaller 'hybrid' block buy of the F-35 for 292 F-35As, 82 F-35Bs & 36 F-35Cs in three lots.

The USMC is converting a Harrier unit to a F-35B squadron.

WiB takes a snarky stance on the USAF stating it has issues testing the F-35 to its full potential in the wargaming setting.

The Brits have the F-35 debuting at the RIAT & Farnborough air shows in the midst of their Brexit meltdown (videos, pictures, more pictures, still more pictures of Typhoons escorting the F-35Bs).

The Brits are bidding to becoming the long term maintenance hub for European F-35s' avionics.

The F-35I was unveiled by Lockheed & Israel.

Israel wants 75 F-35Is & potentially F-35Bs in addition. 

META:

F-22 & F-35 fighter pilots wrote a white paper on how to fight a war with 5th generation fighters circa 2026.

Stealth Saga #42

Avenger/MQ-XX:

The General Atomics MQ-XX tanker entry will be based on the Avenger UCAV.

ATD-X/X-2:

Here's more information on the first flight and program.

More videos.

Mitsubishi's statement on the flight is here.

The X-2 will fly at least 50 times by the end of the year.

The X-2 is more than a symbol of national pride.

Then there is a bit more.  And some more.

PAK-FA:

Is the PAK-FA going to be the Su-50?

PAK-DA:



This is done by fans, so don't get too excited and is based on wind tunnel models from 4 years ago.

F-117:

Congress may finally let the F-117 be sent to the boneyard.  Finally.  Elsa should sing to Congress.

Stealth Hawk:

5 Years ago, the raid that killed bin Laden & exposed the Stealth Black Hawk took place.

F-22:

The USAF has sent 2 F-22 Raptors to Romania to reassure NATO of US support against Russia.

Two of the Raptors went to Lithuania. Here's a video of them being refueled on the way.

What the F-22s are doing in Europe.

F-35:

The F-35 software bugs are supposedly NOT a threat to the IOC for the F-35A.

The software is going to be patched.  The question is how.  Really.

The radar bug does not effect USMC F-35Bs because they did NOT load the latest software update.

The F-35B will get its first shipboard deployment in 2017.

The USMC F-35 maintainers talk the problems of the F-35B maintenance, including the infamous ALIS.

An F-35B was fueled on the ground by a V-22.

 Thornberry's bill apparently will add back the 5 F-35As the budget didn't have, but the air force wanted.  HASC put in a total of 11 F-35s above and beyond.  A bit more here.  Slightly different here.

An F-35A at Luke AFB just dropped some GBU-12 bombs.

There are implications for the F-35I getting its own apps built on top of the F-35 avionics.

The roll out for the F-35I is to take place on June 22.

McCain is against the F-35 bulk buy.

Lockheed's manufacture of the F-35 has been slower than expected.

Until the F-35 proves it can perform in combat, Congress is not likely allow retirement the legacy aircraft.  Like the A-10.  Senator Ayotte really wants the USAF to come clean whether or not the F-35 will be replacing the A-10.  An F-35 pilot really dislikes the test saying they ought to be comparing apples to apples.

Pratt & Whitney is wrapping up the F-35 F135 engine development.

Could a connectivity problem ground the F-35?

The F-35 program office has 2,590 people working for it.  Mother of gawd...

Stealth Saga #40

X-47B:

X-2:

The X-2 flight is expected by the end of the month (link in Japanese).

PAK-FA:

The latest picture of one of the PAK-FA prototypes from here.

PAK-FA picture carrying dumb bombs.

The PAK-FA is undergoing extensive weapons testing as the pictures above show.

More bad news for the PAK-FA: Russia has ordered another 30 Su-30s.

Sixth Generation Fighters:

Russia continues to talk up its 6th gen fighter plans.

The USAF is delaying its F-X Sixth Gen fighter program by at least a year.

Here's more thoughts on the F-X/6th gen fighter.

F-22:

F-22s made a surprise deployment to Britain.

B-21:

The US Air Force is resisting stating how much the B-21 will finally cost.

F-35:

How Israel plans on upgrading its F-35s.

The F-35s will be Israel's method of keeping an edge over its neighbors.

Is the F-35 debut in Britain a warning to Russia?

The British are upgrading the base for the F-35.

The Vermont Air National Guard is getting the F-35 starting in 2019.

WiB must have choked when they did a podcast suggesting the F-35 might not suck.

 A Dutch tanker fueled an F-35.

The first international debut of the F-35 will be in the Netherlands.

Britain has received its last test F-35.

A new admiral has been named to coordinate the introduction of the F-35C to the US Navy.

Pratt & Whitney and the US government have reached an agreement for the engines for the F-35.

Where will the first reserve base be for the F-35?

Integration of the ASRAAM missile has started for the F-35.

General:

The attack on the US Air Force's commitment to a fully stealth force continues.

Stealth Saga #38

RQ-170:

Air and Space has a profile of the RQ-170.

UCLASS:

Despite doing a tanker drone first, the US Navy has stated it still wants a UCLASS drone.

The GAO reported on the progress on UCLASS.

ATD-X/X-2:

Here's a high resolution photo of the X-2. 

F-3:

Japan has reached out to Boeing and Lockheed for help in building its 5th generation fighter.  The Russians are calling the F-3 a sixth generation fighter.  That remains to be seen.

J-20:

PAK-FA:

The Indian variant of the PAK-FA, the FGFA, may end up armed with the hypersonic Brahmos missile.

B-21:

WiB argues the B-21 needs to become more open for it to survive the funding battles coming up.  Its not to say it should be a 'white' program, but less grey.  Unforunately, while they have the right idea, they use the disastrous Navy A-12 program as the basis of their argument.  The A-12 program was not canceled due to a funding fight with the F-22 though.  It was cancelled because it was run atrociously.


F-35:

The USS America has joined the fleet after having its deck strengthened for flying the F-35.

The US Marines will be standing up a second F-35B squadron in June.

The first USMC F-35B squadron will deploy on time to Japan.

The F-35A IOC may be delayed due to the software fixes.  And cyber vulnerabilities.

The total costs of F-35 acquisition has dropped $13 billion.

However, the last F-35 will fly until 2070 now.  That will increase the total life time costs of the program.  I also have a hard time believing the F-35 will remain in the inventory until I am 96.  There are going to be some major tech changes that will obsolete the F-35 by the 2050s at the latest.

The head of the F-35 program and the GAO are at odds.

The F-35 is going on a global publicity tour to wins hearts and minds at least of the legislatures backing the project.

WiB grouses at the expense of F-35 upgrades.

General:

A Chinese businessman has plead guilty to spying on the F-22 and F-35 programs.

The US Air Force is being criticized for still believing it can have a 100% stealth air fleet.

Stealth Saga #37

RQ-170:

Spotted outside of Palmdale.  Do you see it?


MQ-25 Stingray (formerly CBARS, formerly RAQ-25, formerly UCLASS):

Lockheed is asking the Navy to consider a flying wing for the Stingray since it would allow for an upgrade path to a true stealthy strike platform in the future at a reduced cost.

WiB profiles the  Stingray plans.

The MQ-25 might get slaved, three at a time, to F-35s.

ATD-X/X-2:

Due to flight test delays, it has become unlikely the X-2 will be delivered to the Japanese air force by the end of March deadline.

J-20:

The J-20 was recently photographed at the China Flight Test Establishment at Yanliang airbase in Xi’an.

Project IX:

The US Air Force wanted to build a stealthy transport plane for transporting special forces.  The question is whether or not they built it.  The upgrades for the current transport have been skipped.  Which may mean nothing, but it might mean everything.

TR-X:

Lockheed has come out to state it would cost $3.8B for 30 airframes for the TR-X high altitude, stealthy follow-on to the U-2 and Global Hawk.  It will take ten years to deploy from go.  Rumor has it this might already be in the wild, if still in the black.

Sixth Generation Fighters:

The Russians are spinning the development of Sixth Generation Fighters as a race between Russia and the US.  That might be true if the Russians were not choking on their Fifth Generation Fighter, the PAK-FA right now and could not afford their new bomber, the PAK-DA.

The Russians are also stating their Sixth Gen will be better than the US.  Oh, Russia, you so silly.  Is your paper airplane better than ours?

Lockheed expressed the opinion (paywall) the 6th generation fighter is 30 years away and should not be rushed into.  I have to wonder if the bad press for the F-35 is worrying them and their chances for capturing the 6th gen.  Its also in their interest, economically, to keep milking the F-35 for as long as possible.  It might also be they are concerned a 6th gen might get pushed through quickly and Congress will do to the F-35 what it did to the F-22.

B-21:

McCain is demanding the US Air Force publicly release the value of the B-21 contract.

The cost plus vs fixed price contract debate gets profiled for the B-21.

The Air Force is asking Congress for a separate fund for its nuclear weapons delivery system replacements, inclusive of the B-21.

The B-21 procurement is about to get really political.

F-22:

Saving money on the F-22 program by ending it early is increasingly being called a very grave mistake.

F-35:

War is Boring harps on a comment a general made about commonality of the F-35 models, going as far as to say they really ought to be labeled the F-35, F-36 & F-37.

The lighter F-35 helmet and ejection seat fix are going into testing shortly.

ALIS problems could delay the August 1st IOC for the F-35A (paywall).

What *IS* left on the US Air Force checklist to declare IOC for the F-35A? 

The Luke AFB F-35s have dropped their first bombs.

More investment by the government is needed to allow the F-35 to hit the $85 million price.

The US Air Force is developing a new air to air missile for its stealth fighters.  This is called the small advanced capabilities missile or miniature self-defence munition, depending on the source.  It is 6 ft long instead of 12 ft like the AMRAAM and meant to allow doubling of the number of missiles carried internally by the F-35 and F-22.

The Royal Air Force will be developing their own mini cruise missile, SPEAR, for the F-35.

The Danish fighter buy (probably F-35) will probably be delayed.

Uncertainy is hurting Canadian industrial participation in the F-35 due to the Canadian recompete of the program.

General US:

An upgrade path may significantly help the US with its aircraft.

Mini Stealth Saga: More X-2 Taxi Tests

Stealth Saga Mini Update: Japanese X-2 Stealth Fighter at Full Thrust for Take-off on Taxi Test

Stealth Saga #32

ATD-X/X-2/F-3:

The X-2 is conducting taxi tests and will have its first flight in March (paywall link).

PAK-FA:

The Russians are claiming a climb rate record for the PAK-FA.  They are also saying an export version of the PAK-FA will be ready in 2020.

For the moment, I will be keeping the PAK-FA here.  However, its becoming increasingly said the PAK-FA is a 4.5 or 4th++ generation fighter comparable to the Rafale rather than the F-22, even Jane's called it a 'FINO' (fifth-gen in name only).

CBARS/UCLASS:

Also the CBARS tanker seems to be back under review by OSD.  The US Navy is stating the CBARS effort will be leaner than the UCLASS one.

Sixth Generation Fighter:

 The Pentagon is dropping more hints about the 6th gen: more fuel capacity, longer range, more weapons, lasers and stealth.

Aviation Week warns (paywall) about defining the next fighter as a fighter.

Long Range Strike Bomber:

There is a campaign to kill off the needed nuclear bomber.

B-2:

Here's an impressive flyby by the B-2 at an airshow.

F-35:

The test deployment of the F-35A to Mountain Home AFB is to demo the ability to deploy to foreign bases.

FACO approaches for the first Japanese Fp35A.

Israel's Rafael is looking for opportunities to add its current sensors to or develop new ones for the F-35.

Canada will not be excluding the F-35 from its CF-18 fighter replacement competition.

Counterstealth:

The Chinese are claiming to be able to track the F-22 over the South China Sea.

Here's 'how to kill an F-35' but really how it might be possible to track stealthy aircraft.

Patents:

Who invented stealth technology?  A 1984 patent dispute is in the appeals court stage.

Budget:

Russia is cutting back its defense procurement budget by around 5%.  Others are casting doubt on the idea though.

Stupidity:

Some idiot claims to have flown a drone into Area 51.

Stealth Saga #29: Japanese ATD-X/X-2 Begins Taxi Tests

ATD-X/X-2/F-3:




The X-2 has started its taxi tests.  Its maiden flight will not be far behind.

Mitsubishi has revealed details behind the planned development of the Japanese stealth fighter.

X-2 vs J-31 with an appearance of the F-35 video:

J-20:

China may have a full squadron of J-20 stealth fighters by the end of 2017.

PAK-FA/FGFA:

The Indians and Russians have once again restarted their negotiations

PAK-DA:

Russia has started doing engine tests for the PAK-DA.

In a REALLY bad sign for the PAK-DA, Tu-160 production restart has been postponed, possibly as late as 2023.

LRS-B:

The budget request for the LRS-B effectively doubles the R&D spending on bombers.

The US Air Force has updated its expected costs for the LRS-B.  The total price has come down significantly.

Rumors have it that the Boeing/Lockheed & Northrop LRS-B prototypes were flown on actual combat missions.  This is...surprising and stretches credibility a bit.

The GAO is required to uphold or dismiss the LRS-B protest brought by Boeing by February 16.

UCLASS/CBARS:

The draft RFP for the unmanned tanker for US Navy aircraft carriers is expected to be out this year.  However, in a weird twist, they are keeping the RAQ-25 designation rather than changing to something like a KQ-xx as tankers normally are.  It seems the reason for the designation retention is because the US Navy wants to retain a basic strike and recon capability for the CBARS.

Sixth Generation Fighters:

A bit more information on the Northrop ad here.

F-35:

The Italian Air Force has successfully flown the first F-35 across the Atlantic.  More photos.  And even more photos.

The first Luke AFB pilot has achieved 500 flight hours in the F-35A.

The F-35 still has problems according to a report.  Some are calling the problems a fundamental, unfixable issue for the F-35.  There are still 419 problems to be resolved.

The Pentagon is planning on buying 404 F-35s over the next 5 years.  However, the US Air Force is planning on deferring 45 F-35As over the same 5 years, buying ~45 per year until 2021 when it will jump to 60.  The US Air Force is downplaying the deferral of F-35 purchases.

General Bogdan is predicting by 2019, an F-35A will cost between $80 to $85 million each with engine included.

The first ASRAAMs have been delivered for integration testing for the British F-35s.

The US Air Force will be reinstating the loading competition it used to do for the F-15 for the F-35.

Here are the biggest development risks left for the F-35.

Six F-35As have flown to Mountain Home AFB to simulate a foreign deployment.

 US Air Force Budget:

The USAF cannot afford all of its needs under the current and projected budget plans.  This is what happens when you delay so as to have to replace everything at once.