Forum: General F-35 Forum

"And while all the Navy’s amphibious assault ships will ultimately operate the F-35B, none, including Wasp, is fully configured for the aircraft’s operation. Wasp, however, already features several JSF-specific alterations, including electrical power modifications, expanded weapons handling and storage, provisions for a new automated logistics system and flight deck modifications.

The October tests also showed the need for more changes to adapt to the high heat thrown off by the F-35B’s engine exhaust aimed directly at the deck, and the relocation or shielding of numerous topside fittings.

More work is scheduled to begin on Wasp this fall to repair and modify the ship before flight operations resume next year. All Wasp-class assault ships and the new America-class ships will receive the modifications, estimated to cost about $68 million per ship."

http://www.defensenews.com/article/2012 ... CFRONTPAGE

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Sounds like something unexpected happened, even America-class needs the modifications

Would be nice to know more about whatever these changes are, other than those already explained prior to the F-35B testing. I can hear the decks melting again. But hey - I jest. Probably the change is one already flagged - THERMION - baby! Twisted Evil

The 'evidence of melted deck' photo is from:

The F?35: Getting On With It - Cultural Change You Can Believe In
Dr. Robbin F. Laird | Second Line of Defense

http://www.slideshare.net/robbinlaird/t ... 2/download

It could be something as simple as new covers for landing lights, thicker poles on barriers, etc.

Minor issues any why you try and spin it.

megasun wrote:

Sounds like something unexpected happened, even America-class needs the modifications

Sounds like normal development. Carriers had to be modified when the F-14 came out too.

It was rather fun to watch those tests after all the dire predictions of melted decks and islands/deck-crews blown overboard.

What are the long term plans for LHD-1?

What would really be news is if no modifications were required.

madrat wrote:

What are the long term plans for LHD-1?

There are some questions about that.

http://www.dodbuzz.com/2012/06/18/whats ... -uss-wasp/

Seems this ship hasn't made a full deployment since 2004.

Amphib Wasp to get combat system upgrade By Christopher P. Cavas | Jun 30, 2012

http://www.navytimes.com/news/2012/06/n ... e-063012d/

"The amphibious assault ship Wasp’s combat system is obsolete, the Navy says, and has been that way for years, leading to the ship’s withdrawal in 2009 from the regular deployment schedule.

The ship that hasn’t made a major overseas deployment since 2004 is scheduled to receive a major upgrade intended to put it back in the mix by 2014....

...With the pending need in 2009 for a dedicated test ship for the F-35B short-takeoff, vertical-landing aircraft, the non-deploying Wasp was a logical choice.

“The fleet and type commanders coordinated a way forward for Wasp that addressed limitations of her combat systems suite while keeping her following an operational employment strategy leveraging her current capabilities,” said Capt. Chris Sims, a spokesman for Fleet Forces Command.

“By delaying necessary upgrades to USS Wasp’s combat systems,” Sims wrote in an email on Friday, “the Navy was able to meet Marine Corps requirements for a dedicated, at-sea test platform for the JSF while continuing to meet combatant commander requirements under the amphibious ready group/Marine expeditionary unit deployment rotation.”

After some modifications, Wasp conducted two weeks of flight tests with the F-35B last October, but no further flight tests are scheduled until 2013. An overhaul to begin receiving more extensive shipboard modifications to fully support the aircraft is scheduled to begin this fall, with more flight tests next summer.

But later in 2013, the ship will be upgraded with the Ship Self Defense System Block II,..."

FULL STORY at the JUMP!

"The amphibious assault ship Wasp’s combat system is obsolete, the Navy says, and has been that way for years, leading to the ship’s withdrawal in 2009 from the regular deployment schedule."

LHD-1 WASP was IOC 1989 for a 40 year life. 22 years in, the Wasp is due for some upgrades and retrofits. These upgrades are coincident with it's schedule availability to provide the test platform for the "Bee". But the exhaust horrors from the MV-22 and the F-35B didn't happen. With the commissioning of the LHD-8 Makin Island, scores of LHD upgrades and systems are proving themselves in that new ship, some of which can be planned for the Wasp. Smile

F-35 JSF Testers Report Progress, Problems By Guy Norris, Graham Warwick — With Amy Butler and Bill Sweetman in Washington. Source: Aviation Week & Space Technology 21 Jan 2013

http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.asp ... ml&p=3

"...says McFarlan.

Stovl F-35Bs will return to the assault carrier USS Wasp in August [2013] for a second round of sea trials in stronger winds. “We will also bring along weapons,” he says...."

Forum: General F-35 Forum

USS Wasp needs further mods to operate F-35B