F-35 Lightning II Program Status and Fast Facts

  

 

F35 Lightning II Program Status and Fast Facts

April 23, 2015

 

 Program Status                                                                       

     2015 SDD flight test activity totals through April 15:

F35A Flight Science aircraft have flown 62 times

F35B Flight Science aircraft have completed 69 flights

F35C Flight Science aircraft have flown 75 times

The Mission Systems Test Aircraft have flown 129 times

 

    Since December 2006, F35s have flown more than 30,000 cumulative flight hours.

 

 F35 Delivery Status                                                               

140 F35s have been delivered to the Department of Defense as of April 23:

     120 Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Aircraft

65 F35As (including two international aircraft)

39 F35Bs (including three international aircraft)

16 F35Cs

 

     20 System Development and Demonstration (SDD) aircraft complete the test and development fleet:

There are four F35As assigned to Edwards AFB, Calif., and five F35Bs along with four F35Cs stationed at PAX River NAS, Md. This count includes six static aircraft and AA1.

 

 Highlights of the Last Two Months                                       

     Israel signed a contract to buy 14 additional F35 fighter jets. (Feb. 23)

     The Dutch Parliament approved an order for the nations first production batch of eight F-35s. (March 3)

     The first internationally built F35A rolled out of Italian FACO. (March 16)

     Luke AFB officially began training pilots to fly the F35 with their first ever training sortie. (March 19)

     Projected costs for the F35 dipped $7.5 billion in the last year according to the Pentagon. (March 19)

     Australias first F35A pilot, Squadron leader Andrew Jackson, flew his first flight at Eglin AFB (March 20)

     The Edwards ITF completed F35 aerial refueling testing for the KC135 SDD flight test program. (March 26)

     The Netherlands officially signed for its first eight operational F35s. Two of the aircrafts will be assembled at the Italian FACO facility. (March 29)

     Completed Climatic Chamber testing on the F35B that included a variety of weather extremes with temperatures from 40 to 120 degrees. (March 29)

     The 56th fighter wing at Luke AFB flew its 1,000th F35 sortie. (March 31)

     MCAS Beaufort performed an F35B STOVL demonstration flight during their recent air show. (April 13)

     Two F35Cs visited Lemoore NAS to give the pilots and Navy personnel a chance to check out the new fighters before theyre officially stationed there. (April 15)

     Norways first F35, AM1 is now weight on wheels as it makes its way down the production line. (April 16)

     Luke conducted the first F35 training deployment, taking 10 jets to Nellis AFB for two weeks. During the detachment they maintained a 95 percent availability rate. (April 17)

 

 Planned Quantities                                                                 

USAF                          1,763 F35As

USN                             260 F35Cs

USMC                         353 F35Bs/67 F35Cs

U.K. RAF/RN             138 F35Bs

Italy                             60 F35As/30 F35Bs

Netherlands                 37 F35As

Turkey                         100 F35As

 

 

Current as of April 22, 2015

Produced by Lockheed Martin F35 Communications Team

Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.



Australia     100 F35As Norway     52 F35As Denmark     30 F35As Canada     65 F35As Israel     33 F35As S. Korea     40 F35As Japan     42 F35As

 

 Funding                                                                                    

     Longlead funding LRIP lot 9 (57 aircraft)

     Full funding approved for LRIP lot 8 (43 aircraft)

     Full funding approved for LRIP lots 6&7 (71 aircraft)

     Full funding approved for LRIP lot 5 (32 aircraft)

     Full funding approved for LRIP lot 4 (32 aircraft)

     Full funding approved for LRIP lot 3 (17 aircraft)

     Full funding approved for LRIP lot 2 (12 aircraft)

     Full funding approved for LRIP lot 1 (2 aircraft)

 

 Cost                                                                                         

     The U.S. DOD announced an agreement aimed at reducing the price of an F35 to the equivalent of todays

4th generation fighters by the end of the decade known as Blueprint for Affordability in 2014.

     The U.S. government has stated the projected cost of an F35 purchased in 2018 will be $85 million.

Thats the equivalent of $75 million today.

     More than $500 million reduction in concurrency costs over the first five production lot contracts.

     The LRIP 8 contract reflects an average airframe unit cost approximately 3.5 percent lower than the LRIP

7 contract signed in 2013 and a 57 percent reduction since LRIP 1.

LRIP 6 Aircraft Costs (not including engine): o 23 F35As CTOL $103 million/jet o 6 F35B STOVL $109 million/jet

o 7 F35C CV – $120 million/jet

     LRIP 7 Aircraft Costs (not including engine):

o 24 F35As CTOL $98 million/jet o 7 F35B STOVL $104 million/jet o 4 F35C CV – $116 million/jet

     LRIP 8 Aircraft Costs (not including engine):

o 19 F35As CTOL-$94.8 million/jet

o 6 F35B STOVL $102.0 million/jet

o 4 F35C CV – $115.7 million/jet

 

 F35 Quantities by Variant and Country for LRIP 1 8     

LRIP 1 (2 Total) 2 U.S. / 0 International

United States

2 F35A CTOL for the U.S. Air Force

 

LRIP 2 (12 Total) 12 U.S. / 0 International

United States

6 F35A CTOL for the U.S. Air Force

6 F35B STOVL for the U.S. Marine Corps

 

LRIP 3 (17 Total) 14 U.S. / 3 International

United States

7 F35A CTOL for the U.S. Air Force

7 F35B STOVL for the U.S. Marine Corps

 

International

1 F35A CTOL for the Netherlands

2 F35B STOVL for UK



LRIP 4 (32 Total) 30 U.S. / 2 International

United States

10 F35A CTOL for the U.S. Air Force

16 F35B STOVL for the U.S. Marine Corps

4 F35C CV for the U.S. Navy

International

1 F35A CTOL for the Netherlands

1 F35B STOVL for the UK

 

LRIP 5 (32 Total) 32 U.S. / 0 International

United States

22 F35A CTOL for the U.S. Air Force

3 F35B STOVL for the U.S. Marine Corps

7 F35C CV for the U.S. Navy

 

LRIP 6 (36 Total) 31 U.S. / 5 International

United States

18 F35A CTOL for the U.S. Air Force

6 F35B STOVL for the U.S. Marine Corps

7 F35C CV for the U.S. Navy

International

3 F35A CTOL for Italy

2 F35A CTOL for Australia

 

LRIP 7 (35 Total) 29 U.S. / 6 International

United States

19 F35A CTOL for the U.S. Air Force

6 F35B STOVL for the U.S. Marine Corps

4 F35C CV for the U.S. Navy

International

3 F35A CTOL for Italy

2 F35A CTOL for Norway

1 F35B STOVL for the UK

 

LRIP 8 (43 Total) 29 U.S. / 14 International (4 UK, 2 Norway, 2 Italy, 4 Japan, 2 Israel)

United States

19 F35A CTOL for the USAF

6 F35B for the U.S. Marine Corps

4 F35C for the U.S. Navy

International

4 F35B STOV for UK

2 F35A CTOL for Norway

2 F35A CTOL for Italy

4 F35A CTOL for Japan

2 F35A CTOL for Israel

 

 

 

 Program Highlights by Year                                                  

     2001 The Pentagon announced that an international team led by Lockheed Martin won the competition to build the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). The X35B takes off and lands vertically for the first time.

     2002 Canada, Denmark, Norway, Italy, Turkey, Australia and the Netherlands join F35 partnership.

     2003 Production of first F35 major airframe components begins. Lockheed Martin completes the first F35 hardware delivery with the installation of LMSTAR.

     2004 Assembly begins on the first F35 in Fort Worth. Engineers remove more than 2,700 pounds of unwanted estimated weight from the shorttakeoff/verticallanding (STOVL) variant.

     2005 Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney successfully perform the first start of an F-35 aircraft test engine. The first F35 completes assembly of major structural components in Fort Worth.

     2006 The U.S. Navy dedicated a $24 million facility at NAS Patuxent River, Md., for testing of the Navy and

Marine Corps jets. The first F35 is completed on schedule and moves from the factory for ground testing. The F35 is officially named Lightning II. The Netherlands becomes the first partner nation to extend its participation into the production and support phase of the program. AA1 completes its inaugural flight.

     2007 Electrical power is applied to the F35B for the first time. The F35B makes its debut amid customers from the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.K.’s Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, and the Italian Air Force and Navy at a rollout ceremony in Fort Worth.

     2008 The shaftdriven lift fan propulsion system operates for the first time in the aircraft during ground testing. The F35B flies for the first time. The first F35 finishes all planned testing at Edwards AFB. The F35 flies supersonic for the first time. Lockheed Martin rolls out the first weightoptimized CTOL variant.

     2009 The U.K. announces they will purchase three F35B operational test aircraft. A ceremony in Fort Worth marks the rollout of the U.S. Navys first F35C. The first F35B arrives at NAS Patuxent River.

     2010 An F35B completes a vertical landing for the first time. F35A successfully completes fullscale static testing. The F35B flies faster than the speed of sound for the first time. The Government of Canada announces plans to acquire the F35. F35 center wing production operations begin in Marietta. Israel becomes the first country to receive the F35 through the U.S. governments Foreign Military Sales process. Block 1, the first of three principal softwaredevelopment blocks for the F35s mission systems, made its inaugural flight.

     2011 The U.S. Air Force accepts the first production-model F35. F35 successfully completes static structural testing. BF2 successfully executed a vertical landing on the deck of the USS WASP. AF1 achieves the maximum design limit Mach number for F35, Mach 1.6. Japan announces that the F35 has been selected as the countrys next generation fighter.

     2012 The first night flight in the history of the F35 program was completed at Edwards AFB. An F35A flew the first external weapons test mission in F35 program history. The program completed inflight refueling of an F35B STOVL while configured with external weapons. Norway orders its first F35. The first international F35 was delivered to the U.K. Luke AFB selected for F35A Pilot Training. Operational Utility Evaluation at Eglin Air Force Base successfully completed. F35 completes more than 5,000 flight hours. AETC declares Eglin AFB ready for training.



     2013 F35 completes first in-flight dual refueling. 100th F-35 completes production in Fort Worth. F35A completes 3-year clean wing flutter testing. First F35C production model delivered. The first four F35s arrive at Nellis AFB for operational testing. Marine Corps conduct first operational F35B vertical landing. U.K. announces RAF Marham in Norfolk as home for F35. First international student flies F35. U.S. services declare IOC dates. F35A completed its first inflight missile launch with AIM120 C5 AAVI. Australia recommitted to their program of record which includes purchasing 100 aircraft beginning in LRIP 10. $4.5 billion reduction in acquisition, operating and support costs reflected in the SAR 12. Cameri, Italy, FACO operations commenced in July. Netherlands officially announces F35 win in fighter replacement competition. Contract agreements for LRIP 6 and 7 were signed for 71 aircraft. F35B completes successful ship suitability testing aboard USS Wasp. An F35B successfully employed a GBU32 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) weapon against a fixed ground test target. The first Netherlands F35 pilot took to the skies. Lockheed Martin celebrated the inauguration of the 100th F35

     2014 Royal Air Force Squadron Leader Hugh Nichols, an instructor pilot, completed the U.K.s first F35B vertical landing at Eglin AFB. The first F35A with a Magellan-manufactured horizontal tail assembly successfully flew for the first time. The names of the first two Australian pilots selected to undergo training in the U.S. on the F35A announced. The first Alenia Aermacchimanufactured wing components installed flew on AF44. Luke AFB received their first of 144 F35s in March. Republic of Korea selected F35A to replace its fighter fleet. Eglin AFB began night training program. Eglin surpassed 100 pilots and 1,000 maintainers trained. Australia announces additional procurement of 58 aircraft. The Turkish Ministry of Defence announced its intent to purchase the country‘s first two F35As. An F35B sequentially engaged two aerial targets with two AIM120 AMRAAMs for the first time during a Weapon Delivery Accuracy mission. The final F35A delivered to Eglin AFB, marking the 58th Fighter Squadron as the first complete Air Force F35A squadron. U.S. DOD announced an agreement aimed at reducing the price of an F35 to the equivalent of today‘s 4th generation fighters by the end of the decade known as Blueprint for Affordability. The first F35B assigned to VMFAT501 arrived at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. The F35B completed required wet runway and crosswind testing at Edwards Air Force Base, California. First pipeline class of F35 crew chiefs

graduated from Eglin AFB training center. The Department of the Navy decided to base F-35C aircraft at NAS Lemoore, California. The F35C completed its first phase of developmental test (DT) aboard an aircraft carrier Nov. 14, three days ahead of schedule.

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