Official B-21 Rendering

Stealth Saga #56

6th Generation Fighters:

Leonardo has developed new radar tech for the Tempest.

Airbus wants to absorb the British Tempest project into FCAS.

The US Navy is still mulling over the 6th gen planes.  It is unsure if the next gen fighter will actually fly from its carrier decks.

The USAF NGAD received almost $1B.

The Navy's FA-XX/Next Gen Fighter had its funding slashed.

The Japanese unveiled its latest version of the Next Generation Fighter.  It is far, far bigger than the F-22.

KF-X:

(again) the KF-X will get the Meteor missile.

TFX:

Turkey says Britain has agreed to accelerate the TFX program.

J-XY:

The Chinese are developing a 5th gen fighter for the new carrier decks, probably derived from the FC-31/J-31.

Su-57:

Is this missile intended for the side bay of the Su-57?

An Su-57 has flown 16 times with the new engine.  Testing continues.

The Su-57 supposedly was redeployed to Syria for testing.

An Su-57 crashed.  It was the first serial production aircraft.  This is a serious blow to the Russian efforts.

A report claims the Algerians are buying 14 Su-57s.  Or not.

B-21:

The contract for the B-21 has been structured to allow for buying more B-21s, faster, should the need arise without renegotiating.

An Australian think tank proposed buying B-21 bombers from the US.  There is little chance of that.

F-117:

A video of an F-117 at the Reagan library makes for interesting observations.

An F-117 has been spotted acting as a stealthy aggressor against F-15s and F-22s at Nellis AFB.

AGM-129:

The saga of the first stealth cruise missile.

LRSO:

Congress may have just cancelled the conventionally armed stealthy LRSO cruise missile.

F-22:

Lockheed got a $7B contract for F-22 sustainment.

F-35:

Congress has blocked the creation of an F-35A aggressor squadron.

Congress approved the buy of 62 F-35As, 16 F-35Bs and

JSOW integration was days away.

F-35 deliveries were halted for quality control issues.

F-35s can call for artillery fire to suppress air defenses if necessary.

The 588th FW's F-35s are headed back to the Middle East for another combat deployment.

Outgoing F-35A demo pilot "Dojo" gets interviewed.

Hill AFB is getting its last F-35As.

The F-35B sporting USS America reaches Japan.

Congress has told the USN to get the USS Kennedy, the newest carrier, ready for the F-35C immediately.

Lockheed has been given contract to deliver 15 F-35As to Australia.

Australia has approved procuring 24 more F-35.

British F-35Bs have launched from the HMS Queen Elizabeth.

Denmark wants more F-35s.

Lockheed is pressing for 75 F-35Is to be sold to Israel.

Lockheed is working on an Israel F-35I specific upgrade.

South Korea has declared IOC for its F-35As.

Lockheed has been given the first contracts for long lead items for the full rate production of the F-35A and for special tooling for the F-35.

Pratt & Whitney just got a $500M contract mod for the F135 engine for the F-35 and another, smaller $50-odd million contract for the engine as well.

Stealth Saga #50

6th Generation Fighters:

The sixth gen of fighters gets profiled.

MDBA unveiled its weapons concepts for the European FCAS project.

The fighter component of the FCAS project is now known as the Next Generation Fighter and will be designed to work with carriers in the same way as the Rafale from the get go.

The Swedes have joined the Tempest project.

The Tempest will probably have hypersonic weapons.

Thales and Aeralis have signed an MOU to develop a combat training system for the Tempest.

US experts opine on the NGAD.

The USAF expects to do a lot of modeling and simulation in support of the NGAD effort.  This has always worked so well in the past (*cough*Zumwalt*cough*FCS*cough*).

KF-X:

Jakarta is still trying to get concessions on the cost of their participation in the KF-X program.

Jakarta is also exploring trying to send commodities instead of money for their payment of the KF-X program.

Ohotnik-B/Hunter-B:

The Russians have stated the flying wing Ohotnik UCAV has made its first flight.

SU-57:

The SU-57 has supposedly entered serial production.  The first production model is supposed to be delivered this year.

The Su-57 will be put on static display at MAKS.

PAK-DA:

Supposedly, the PAK-DA will be tested (if its ever built) in Zhukovsky.  Article mostly talks about the other, older bombers Russia has.

Chengdu's Mystery Plane:

A flying pin from the Chengdu Aircraft company doesn't match with any known aircraft.  Real? Trolling? What?

J-31/FC-31:

AVIC officials are upbeat on the J-31/FC-31 progress and eventual adoption by the PLA.

J-20:

The first J-20 has been assigned to a combat unit in Wuhu.

B-21:

Northrop has started building the first EMD B-21.  There are additional test aircraft being built, which implies there were earlier demonstrators were flown.  The first flight will be in late 2021.

B-2:

It is the 30th anniversary of the first flight of the B-2 bomber.

F-117:

NASA tested scale models of the F-117 in 1995 to see what would happen if the aircraft carried external weapons.

F-22:

Like the F-35, the F-22 will not reach the required 80% combat readiness.

Some great shots of the F-22 with aggressors were shot over Alaska.

There are some gorgeous videos of the F-22 and F-35.

The F-22 sent to Oshkosh had its RAM skin crumbling.

F-22s (and CF-18s) intercepted Russian bombers.

F-35:

The F-35 won't reach the 80% availability due to parts problems.

The new engines for the F-35 will improve fuel efficiency by 25% and increase thrust by 10%.

There has been a leadership change in the F-35 program.

F-35As are getting the Auto GCAS aircraft early.

4 F-35As landed in Powidz air base as part of a deployment to Poland.

F-35s have landed in Latvia for the first time.

The first permanent base in Europe for US F-35s is being built.

The first F-35A for the Vermont NG has flown from the Lockheed Ft Worth facility.

The F-35A demo team will fly in Canada.

An F-35 went on its first combat training mission 5 hours after being delivered from the factory.

An F-35 sent target data to a US Army missile command.

The USS Tripoli has completed builder's trials.

The newest LHA USS Tripoli (F-35B baby carrier) has been delayed.

Take a look at the shockwaves on the. F-35C

1st Lt Catherine Stark is the first female USMC pilot to be selected to fly the F-35C.

WiB reports the F-35 may have an issue with its canopy.  A new canopy glue may fix the readiness problems.

The first locally trained Australian F-35 pilots have flown.

Australia has consolidated its MRO support for the F-35.

Belgium is spending 375 million Euros on F-35 infrastructure.

Britains 2nd F-35B squadron arrived at Marnham.

Israel is going to have to pick between the F-15X and F-35I in their budget since they do not have the resources for both.

Are Israeli F-35Is making strikes in Iraq against Iranian assets?

The Netherlands has plans to order another 8 to 9 F-35s.

Turkey has taken delivery of the S-400 missiles.  Will Trump keep Turkey in the F-35 program?  The Pentagon is planning on raiding the spare parts budget - which is already 15 years behind schedule! - to pay for removing Turkey from the program.  Turkey is officially out of the F-35 fighter program by March 2020: Turkey cannot have the S-400 and the F-35. The Pentagon has started unwinding Turkey's involvement in the F-35 program.  Of course, Trump found a way to blame Obama: fscking man up, Trumpster.  Lockheed's CEO is stating the Turkish question is being addressed and is confident other customers will buy the F-35s built for Turkey.  A refund and details of how Turkey will be removed are up in the air.

South Korea has had two more F-35As arrive in country: its 3rd and 4th out of 40.

South Korea has started designing a light carrier for the F-35B.

South Korea is moving forward with its F-35B acquisition.  

Stealth Saga #74

Sixth Generation Fighters:

The USAF is promoting its vision of what air to air combat will look like in 2030 in an AFRL video.

The Business Insider had someone consider the video and what to expect from 6th gen fighters.

Next Gen European Fighter:

France and Germany are supposed to announce a new fighter program that will replace the Eurofighter and Rafale in 2040.  Airbus and Dassault have signed an agreement to get the bird in the air supposedly by 2035.

There are politics involved with the procurement.

KF-X:

Martin Baker's MK18 ejection seat has been selected for the South Korean KF-X fighter.

Cobham will produce the oxygen system for the KF-X.

Meggitt won a contract for the KF-X, the brakes and landing gear.

Indonesia is considering pulling out of the KF-X.  South Korea has confirmed the possible pullout.

TF-X:

Leonardo is looking to participate in the Turkish fighter effort.

Preliminary agreements have been signed for the production of the TF-X.

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

Japan denied it will scrap its indigenous 5th generation fighter program.

Even so, Lockheed is said to be offering a new 5th gen fighter with a hybrid of tech from the F-22 and F-35.  It will probably have the bauplan of the F-22 (or close) and the avionics and engines of the F-35.  Some are arguing to restart the F-22 line if there's a hybrid offered.  This ignores the law stated no exports for the F-22.

Japan is weighing different routes to its next fighter, whether through indigenous development or working with a foreign company.  The X-2 may take to the skies again, despite finishing its test program.

Why the F-35 isn't enough for Japan.

Su-57:

Su-57s practicing for the May 9th Parade flyover.

India believes the Su-57 to be inferior to the F-22 and F-35 and is disappointed.

Did the Su-57 deploy to Syria to test its sensors against American stealth aircraft?

The Su-57 will be armed with the Kh-31 family of missiles.

The Su-57 is supposedly to be armed with a recently unveiled standoff "stealthy" Drel bomb.

The Su-57 will participate in the May 9th military parade in Moscow.

FGFA:

India is abandoning the Su-57 derivative, the FGFA: the performance, especially with stealth, is not up to 5th gen fighter standards, according to India.

J-20:

The Russians are saying the Indians are saying (I know, I know) that the J-20 is detectable by Indian radars.

The Chinese claim to be using metamaterials in the J-20 for stealth.  Given the above, I wonder who is correct.

H-20:

Is Beijing hinting the H-20 is not a flying wing?  or is this an artist picking up on internet based pictures and using them in a officially blessed publication?

Pop Sci considers China's plans for a strategic bomber and commissioned an artist to do a speculative rendering for what the H-20 might be like.

B-21:

A bit of a puff piece for the B-21 here.

A patch has emerged that may belong to the B-21 test squadron.

The B-21 has finished its PDR.

The B-21 has had its first software drop.

B-2:

Three B-2s were filmed over Pittsburg, KS.

A huge exercise of 20 B-2s was conducted.

Model 401:

Scaled Composite's Model 401 had more pictures taken of it.

MQ-25 Stingray:

Lockheed is already pushing a stealthy version of the new tanker drone.

RQ-170:

Some patches have come to light about potential RQ-170 operational units.

F-117:

It has been ten years since the F-117 has been retired.  Officially.

F-22:

An auditor discusses the changes to the strategy for developing software for the F-22.

Lt. Col. Cheryl Buehn is the only female pilot for the 71st Training Squadron. Her job? To dogfight F-22s.

An F-22 somehow belly flopped at takeoff.

Another F-22 had an engine incident.

F-22s were used in the Syrian airstrikes.

F-35:

War is Boring still hates the F-35.

The latest report to Congress on the F-35 program.

Spare parts for the F-35 are becoming a serious problem at Elgin AFB.

The Pentagon refused delivery of F-35s until Lockheed ponies up to fix manufacturing defects found in previously delivered aircraft.

The omnibus spending bill passed provided a total of 20 more F-35s than originally asked for: 56 F-35As, 22 F-35Bs & 8 F-35Cs.

The Pentagon plans multiyear contracts starting in 2021 for the F-35.

As production is ramped up all three versions of the F-35 will go below $100M each.

The F-35 JPO is looking to upgrade the LRIP-1 and LRIP-2 F-35 engines.

The F-35 JPO is looking to restructure the sustainment part of the F-35 program rather than cut jets from the procurement.

The F-35 JPO is now launching the Block 4 "premodernization" effort for the F-35.

The F-35 JPO will eventually disband, but some are downplaying the reorg.  In fact, the JPO may not be disbanded until 2035.

The F-35 has completed its development flights without losses or fatalities.  Some are still unhappy.

The US MDA is now stating the F-35A will be ready to help with missile defense in 2025.

The USAF F-35As at Kadena AFB in Japan have been dogfighting with F-15s.  An F-15 made a 'kill' on an F-35.

A pilot talks up the F-35A.

VMFA-122 flew the F-35B for the first time.

The F-35B is expanding its expeditionary envelope.

The F-35B visited CENTCOM HQ in preparation for its first combat deployment.  That deployment will be aboard the USS Essex.

The F-35B is getting 300 GBU-49s for moving targets.

The USMC is experimenting with feeding data from the F-35 to its ground troops.

An USMC F-35B had an emergency landing in Japan.

The USMC F-35B had has an assortment of sustainment problems on its deployment.

There are many lessons learned from the USMC's use of the F-35B.

Lockheed got an $8.5 million contract from the US Navy for the F-35.

The US Navy finished the carrier qualifications the F-35C.

The schedule to declare IOC for the F-35C by the end of the year is in jeopardy.

The F-35C will be deployed to Iwakuni in 2021.

The US Navy finalized JSOW internal integration on the F-35C.  And more info.

The US Navy gave Lockheed two more contract mods for the F-35.

Is Australia shifting from working with the USN to the USAF as noted by the purchase of the F-35As?

Australia received its first fully combat capable F-35A.

Australia's F-35s are getting caught up in the delivery suspension due to manufacturing issues the Pentagon has found.

The British are starting to look at sustainment costs for the F-35.

The Brits have reformed Squadron 617 for the F-35Bs.

Lockheed submitted a bid to Germany to replace the Luftwaffe Tornadoes with F-35s.  Lockheed, thy name is Don Quixote: psst, the Germans prefer the Eurofighter...

Japan wants a multipurpose carrier and to use F-35Bs.

India is supposedly stating they are not interested in the F-35.

There is a report two Israeli F-35Is flew across Syria and Iraq to enter Iranian air space undetected.  Some are more than skeptical.  Russia is denying the F-35s could get around its air defenses.

Israel is going to decide between ordering more F-15s or more F-35s.

Italian F-35s have completed their training deployment to Sardinia.

Italian workers on the F-35 assembly line went on strike.

South Korea's first F-35A had its maiden flight.  The ceremony around the new bird was very low key.  Watch the rollout of the F-35.

A South Korean delegation is pressing the Pentagon to award contracts for MRO&U to Korean companies.

Taiwan still wants F-35Bs.  Two Republican senators are pushing for the Trump administration to sell the aircraft to Taiwan.

The US government is threatening Turkey's participation in the F-35 over the purchase of the S-400 missiles from Russia.  This may be a problem for the F-35 in Europe.  A bill has been introduced in the US Senate to block sale of the F-35s to Turkey.  This is not the first time.

META:

The University of Waterloo claims to have developed a stealth defeating quantum radar.

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.

Stealth Saga #34

5GAT:

Take a look at the world's first stealthy target drone.

CBARS/RAQ-25 Stingray:

The US Navy is changing CBARS' name to the RAQ-25 Stingray.

RQ-180:

Rumors are there were two accidents with the RQ-180.  One of which caused a loss of aircraft and the other damaged enough it needed fixing.

PAK-FA:

Watch carefully from the 8 second mark through the 14 second mark.  Then tell me that's a stealth fighter.

ATD-X/X-2:

The X-2 is apparently doing well on the taxi tests.

B-21/Long Range Strike Bomber:

Here's is more information about the B-21.  The article includes the notation that the artist rendering does not match the Kansas or Texas unidentified aircraft sightings and because the artist rendering is based on the early Northrop concept its likely the final aircraft will be different.

Here's more information about the B-21.  And more again.  Jane's finally weighed in.

Sweetman has made his statement finally and thinks the B-21 draws on the RQ-180.

War is Boring just plains says no one should have been surprised by the design of the B-21.

The B-21 design is being called very similar to the B-2.  By several folks.

The naming game has started for the B-21.

Here's another confirmation Boeing and Lockheed will not be pursuing legal action over the B-21 contract.

The Chinese have started talking trash about the B-21 already.

Rumors have it, the B-21 will have very good sensor fusion and some limited air to air capabilities.

F-35:

The environmental impact statement to bring to F-35A squadrons to Eielson Air Force Base has been completed.

The first combat coded F-35As have dropped weapons for the first time.

A Norwegian pilot has come out to refute the poor performance report by the Lockheed test pilot.  More here.  And even here.

Australia may replace some future F-35s with stealthy UCAVs instead.

Stealth Saga #33: Meet the B-21

B-21/Long Range Strike Bomber:

Meet the B-21.  This is the first official rendering of the new bomber.  No word when they will release other images or unveil a prototype.  IMO, they really ought to have named it the B-3. The obsession with the '21st century' is sooooo 90s.  ;)

Senator McCain is very unhappy with the prospect of the first LRSB contract being a cost plus contract rather than a fixed price. Note: the production contact is a fixed price, but the development contract is cost plus.

At the unveiling, the air force replied to McCain as well.

In general, despite McCain's anger, Congress is supportive of the nuclear triad revamp.  Maybe, just maybe, we have something so important they'll stop being stupid. The B-21 is amongst those programs.

Here's some more background info on contracting something like the B-21.

It also seems the air force brass is stating one of the older bomber types will have to be retired (B-1 or B-52) when the LRS-B comes online.

Minor Update:  The Air Force brass will be asking to raise the number of bombers planned from 100 to 175, maybe, 200.

Minor Update: Boeing and Lockheed have signaled they will not be suing (and again) over the B-21 contract.

VTOL Stealth Drone:

DARPA is looking at funding a VTOL X Plane.  Some sources are stating this is the second coming of VARIOUS.

Sixth Generation Fighter:

The US Air Force is looking at new missiles for the 6th gen, including SACM.

F-35:

General Bogdan has stated it is possible for Australia to do a block buy of the F-35 before the US does.  The US cannot do a block buy until at least LRIP 13's batch.  The international partners have six months to decide on whether or not to do a block buy for them.

However, Australia is now considering other platforms than the F-35 (paywall) for the 2030s time frame for its strike capabilities.

The Dutch F-35s will be flying to the Netherlands soon.

PAK-FA:

More sources have started calling the PAK-FA a '5th gen fighter in name only.'

ATD-X/X-2:

The X-2 gets a quick profiling ahead of its maiden flight.

Chinese 5th Gen VSTOL:

The J-18 VSTOL fighter, the equivalent of the F-35B, is something of a will o'wisp.  Reported here.  Reported there.  Rumored periodically.  Never with any real substance.  However, it is clear the Chinese want one, whether or not they have even a prototype now.

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 #31

KF-X:

The KF-X project is having turbulence because of technology issues.

PAK-FA:

Russia is having problems exporting the PAK-FA due to the perception it is not really a 5th generation fighter.

Avenger UCAV:

India has expressed interest in acquiring the General Atomics Avenger.

Taranis/FCAS:

BAe and Dassault are waiting on the Paris and London about the direction for the stealthy UCAV project.

UCLASS/CBARS:

 Here's some of the reasoning why the US Navy backed away from a stealthy aircraft for the tanker.

Sixth Generation Fighter:

Forbes discusses Northrop's 6th gen fighter but Boeing has started hinting at its own fighter concept.

Some are wondering what the 6th generation fighter will be.

The US Air Force is starting work on the electronic warfare equipment needed for the 6th generation fighter.

Long Range Strike Bomber:

Northrop has resumed work after the GAO denied Boeing's protest.  A bit more here.

It ought to be said the phrasing Boeing used in their initial response to the GAO protest denial was very, very similar to when they lost the contract and brought their protest.  I'd suspect that means there's a lawsuit coming.

The US Air Force has stated they will be releasing more details about the LRS-B in March.

F-22:

F-22s did a show of force in South Korea as a reaction to North Korea's missile launch.  Here's a little more still.  And one last one.

Is this photo from a Chinese airfield real?  Its a model most likely, but...

In a first, two F-22 made an appearance at the Singapore airshow.  

F-35:

The F-35 still has 400 flaws that need addressing.  Most are software.

Ten F-35B will be deployed to Japan by the end of the year.

Stealth Saga #30: GAO to Boeing, Protest DENIED

TFX:

Turkey is seeking advanced stealth technologies to be included in their TFX fighter.

PAK-FA:

There is a report the Russians are cutting their order for the initial production run of the PAK-FA/T-50 from 17 to 12.  The way the article is written, the whole program sounds in jeopardy.

J-20:

The Chinese are expected to produce at least 6 LRIP J-20s as part of their gear up to full production.

RAQ-25 UCLASS/CBARS:

The US Navy wants this tanker/strike/recon drone asap.  

Sixth Generation Fighters:

The US Air Force and US Navy Sixth Generation Fighers (F-X and FA-XX respectively) will be separate aircraft, unlike the F-35, due to very different requirements.

Long Range Strike Bomber:

The GAO has denied Boeing's contract award protest.  Northrop and the USAF are clear to move forward.  I wonder when we will get to see the bird now?

Here's a bit more on the subject including the actual release by the GAO.

A top US Air Force acquisition official has been moved to a new job after he disclosed his wife had a retirement account with Northrop. There was some thought this might have muddied the contract award to Northrop protested by Boeing.  Obviously not.

F-22:

Here are some gorgeous pictures of the F-22 during Red Flag.

F-35:

The F-35 has crossed 50,000 flight hours.

The F-35 program will build 20 less fighters between FY17 and FY21.

Cutting the F-35 is an easy financial target for budgets.  OTOH, international partners are pushing the US to do a block buy of the F-35 over three years for financial reasons as well.

The F-35 is a strong contender for the replacement of Belgium's F-16s.

The F-35's simulator is profiled.

The F-35 Atlantic crossing was done with purely Italian assets.

Lockheed sees a demand for another 100 F-35 fighters in Asia.

The US Air Force will start using contractors to do maintenance for its 4th generation fighters due to the short fall of personnel for the F-35.

Here's more on the six F-35As sent to Mountain Home AFB as a simulated overseas deployment.

Mitsubishi is getting close to finishing assembly of AX-1, the first Japanese assembled F-35.

Stealth Saga #27

China (J-20 & J-31):

China is still struggling with developing advanced jet engines.

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

Foxtrot Alpha has more information on the Japanese stealth fighter technology demonstrator.

There is also more here and here.  And one more time, here.  Still one more.

Finally, the X-2 is preparing for its maiden flight in a couple weeks.

Long Range Strike Bomber:

Why does the US need the new bomber? Hint: only the B-2 can actually fight in a contested airspace and there's 20 of those.

F-22:

Here are some photos of the Raptor at the Red Flag exercises.

Here are some gorgeous photos of Raptors being fueled over the Arabian Sea.

One Australian former wing commander wants the US to sell Australia new F-22s.  That's legally a nonstarter.

F-35:

Sonic booms that caused some concern in New Jersey were caused by the F-35C.

The F-3 gets slammed by Bill Sweetman as very combat limited.

Stealth Saga #23

KF-X:

South Korea's KF-X project for a indigenous stealth fighter has kicked into gear.

PAK-FA:

Russia has learned stealth aircraft are hard and expensive, as witnessed by the buy of new Su-35s and cutting back the planned buy of the Sukhoi Pak-FA.

MiG-31 Replacement:

The replacement program has been delayed until at least 2020.

Budget:

The US Air Force is facing a budget problem with the F-35, Long Range Strike Bomber and new tanker.

Sixth Generation Fighter:

Boeing's defense unit is under enormous pressure to win a contract, one of which is the 6th gen fighter.

Long Range Strike Bomber:

The acquisition of the long range strike bomber gets profiled and the method of acquisition discussed.  We're likely to see this methodology repeated, including on the 6th generation fighter.  What is not generally acknowledged is there were two prototypes built and tested for the LRSB program.

The Economist talks about Obama's plan to replace the American nuclear arsenal, of which the LRSB is part.

F-22:

The US Air Force is squelching the idea of restarting F-22 production.

Here's more on the first combat seen by an F-22.

Eight F-22s have been deployed to Japan.

F-35:

The US DOD has stated the fix will come later this year for the ejection seat problem despite media reports.

The Pentagon and P&W announced an agreement for the next engine buy for the F-35.

The first combat coded F-35A has to start dropping bombs in tests. 

 The Storm Shadow missile will not be integrated with Britain's F-35Bs.

Chinese soldiers have been linked to the hack going after F-35 technical information.

Norway is facing a dual crunch of a weak currency and low oil prices when it comes to buying the F-35.

Stealth Saga #21

KF-X:

Indonesia and South Korea have signed a $1.3 billion deal for Indonesia's participation in the KF-X program covering 1/5th the cost.


J-20:

China is even saying it needs better engines for its J-20 stealth fighter.

PAK-FA:

Reports are that India is still balking at the price for the PAK-FA.  The price for India's participation and tech transfer went from $6 billion to $3.7 billion.  Reportedly, India is still unimpressed.

Russia claims the PAK-FA will be equipped with a ROFAR: Radio-Optic Phased Array Radar.  It sounds like a LIDAR.

MiG-31 Replacement:

 The Russians have started designing a MiG-31 replacement. 

Long Range Strike Bomber:

Some are questioning whether or not the LRS-B will be able to penetrate the enemy air defenses.

F-35 Lightning:

The USMC is testing using remote airfields for F-35B.