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spazsinbad
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 Posted: May 21, 2013 - 03:50 AM
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Elite 3K
Joined: May 05, 2009 - 10:31 PM
Posts: 7838
Location: OZ
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Exclusive: U.S. Air Force to move forward target date for F-35 use Andrea Shalal-Esa, Reuters 20 May 2013
Quote:
"WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Air Force plans to start operational use of Lockheed Martin Corp.-built F-35 fighter jets in mid-2016, a year earlier than planned, using a similar software package as the Marine Corps, two sources familiar with the plans said on Monday....
...The Air Force, Marines and Navy must report to Congress by June 1 on their target dates for initial operational capability, or IOC, which marks the point when the services have enough planes on hand to go to war if needed. Actual deployments usually lag IOC dates by about a year....
...Former Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne said accelerating operational use of the new warplane would allow the Air Force to learn more about the F-35's integrated battle management system....
...The Navy has set mid-2018 for starting operational use of its C-model F-35, which is designed for use aboard U.S. aircraft carriers. Its deadline or threshold date is early 2019....
...The Air Force jets would use the 3I software, which will include a technology refresh with improved memory processors for some sensors on board.
Bogdan said it was not as clear that work on the final software package would be done in 2017, when the Air Force initially planned to declare IOC...."
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ ... 4960.story
BEST to read it all at the jump. |
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Sponsor
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 Posted: May 21, 2013 - 1:23 PM
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F-16.net Sponsor
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neptune
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Posted: May 21, 2013 - 04:06 AM
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Elite 1K
Joined: Oct 24, 2008 - 01:03 AM
Posts: 1140
Location: Houston
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Oh my God, they will start pulling our their hair, tearing their clothes, yelling, screaming, running and jumping out windows now!  |
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hobo
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Posted: May 21, 2013 - 04:56 AM
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Senior member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 - 02:39 PM
Posts: 272
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They will focus on this last part of the report:
Quote:
The Air Force jets would use the 3I software, which will include a technology refresh with improved memory processors for some sensors on board.
Bogdan said it was not as clear that work on the final software package would be done in 2017, when the Air Force initially planned to declare IOC.
The final 3F software will support use of the aircraft's full war fighting capability, with additional internal and external weapons, and more advanced air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities.
That reads like a delay of the full software, or at least a hedging of bets... even if the USAF's IOC date has moved forward. Something for everyone here I guess. |
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SpudmanWP
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Posted: May 21, 2013 - 07:54 AM
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Elite 3K
Joined: Oct 12, 2006 - 08:18 PM
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Location: California
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Or, the USAF realized that:
1. If 3I was good enough for several of our Partners to start with, then why not.
2. The cost of F-16 SLEPs was too much and the F-35A at 3I could be very useful prior to 3F.
3. The cost savings of going to MYB and FRP earlier were tremendous (not sure if this applies)
4. It's a tremendous vote of confidence in the plane's abilities at 3I and the Program's abilities to deliver 3F in a timely manner.
5. The only difference between 3I and 3F is a software update with "maybe" a couple of cards thrown in. This can be done in the field.
6. This will likely stabilize the Partners as they will see the USAF going IOC early. |
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"The early bird gets the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese."
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hobo
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Posted: May 21, 2013 - 01:10 PM
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Senior member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 - 02:39 PM
Posts: 272
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SpudmanWP wrote:
Or, the USAF realized that:
1. If 3I was good enough for several of our Partners to start with, then why not.
2. The cost of F-16 SLEPs was too much and the F-35A at 3I could be very useful prior to 3F.
3. The cost savings of going to MYB and FRP earlier were tremendous (not sure if this applies)
4. It's a tremendous vote of confidence in the plane's abilities at 3I and the Program's abilities to deliver 3F in a timely manner.
5. The only difference between 3I and 3F is a software update with "maybe" a couple of cards thrown in. This can be done in the field.
6. This will likely stabilize the Partners as they will see the USAF going IOC early.
Sure, there are a lot of good reasons to go operational with 3I. The capabilities it offers compare very favorably with what aircraft like the Rafale and Eurofighter went operational with.
My previous response was directed specifically at the various "concerned, skeptical people," who are convinced the program will utterly fail and that its continued refusal to do so is evidence of a conspiracy to destroy European aviation and blah blah blah... |
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