F-35B UK SRVL info - Updated when new/old info available

quicksilver · by **quicksilver** » 31 Oct 2023, 00:18

I’m betting near-IR as it’s very close to the visible light portion of the spectrum.

quicksilver · by **quicksilver** » 31 Oct 2023, 00:27

Here’s another example (about the :35 mark near the bottom of the VL).

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bPCmSzH37y8

steve2267 · by **steve2267** » 31 Oct 2023, 01:13

quicksilver wrote:Here’s another example (about the :35 mark near the bottom of the VL).

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bPCmSzH37y8

hornetfinn · by **hornetfinn** » 31 Oct 2023, 13:13

Could not find this video posted here before. Pretty cool to see what the pilot sees during SRVL:

steve2267 · by **steve2267** » 31 Oct 2023, 14:43

I gather these SRVL's have all been hand flying?

The SRVL appears ripe for automation between ship & aircraft via PALS? Will that be shaken out during this testing cycle as well?

quicksilver · by **quicksilver** » 31 Oct 2023, 18:03

steve2267 wrote:I gather these SRVL's have all been hand flying?

The SRVL appears ripe for automation between ship & aircraft via PALS? Will that be shaken out during this testing cycle as well?

JPALS? Certainly has been their intent to install. But, installation in QE and Cavour was conspicuously announced and I’ve seen no such coverage for PoW. The ship engineering challenges (prop shaft and flooding iirc) may have taken funding intended for other items in order to fix those problems.

Not sure how far along the engineering has progressed toward fully-coupled approaches using JPALS, but to my knowledge, implementation is (like many capabilities) dependent on priorities and resources.

steve2267 · by **steve2267** » 31 Oct 2023, 22:21

Yes, JPALS -- sorry, my bad.

noth · by **noth** » 01 Nov 2023, 02:41

quicksilver wrote:
steve2267 wrote:I gather these SRVL's have all been hand flying?

The SRVL appears ripe for automation between ship & aircraft via PALS? Will that be shaken out during this testing cycle as well?

JPALS? Certainly has been their intent to install. But, installation in QE and Cavour was conspicuously announced and I’ve seen no such coverage for PoW. The ship engineering challenges (prop shaft and flooding iirc) may have taken funding intended for other items in order to fix those problems.

Not sure how far along the engineering has progressed toward fully-coupled approaches using JPALS, but to my knowledge, implementation is (like many capabilities) dependent on priorities and resources.

I believe both ships in class have JPALS and PoW has the added benefit of the Bedford Array. It would be strange if one ship had one system and one had another but not both... Bedford Array is planned to be fitted on Big Lizzie during the 2025 refit. And definitely the plan is to derisk this via all this testing and making it as automatic as possible. The first tests back in 2018 probably translated into some initial support but there no confirmation on it yet. Certainly support in simulation I'd imagine (after all some former military pilot on Youtube managed it in a flight sim!).

noth · by **noth** » 07 Nov 2023, 19:52

DT3 has wrapped up. Maybe they'll give us some more SRVL pics in the coming days / weeks... Now it's on to the Mojave testing (MQ-9B with STOL kit for naval use).

quicksilver · by **quicksilver** » 10 Nov 2023, 19:53

A little info on DT-3 completion.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/hm ... r-AA1jB1bU

noth · by **noth** » 04 Dec 2023, 19:05

Small tidbit revealed: 60 SRVL type landings were undertaken during the trials:

timmymagic · by **timmymagic** » 07 Dec 2023, 12:39

First night time SRVL's as well...

https://twitter.com/HMSPWLS/status/1719029561260757340

noth · by **noth** » 07 Dec 2023, 20:55

timmymagic wrote:First night time SRVL's as well...

https://twitter.com/HMSPWLS/status/1719029561260757340

Already posted on the 30th of October.

noth · by **noth** » 19 Dec 2023, 07:28

New video from Navy Lookout showing new footage from the trials, including an SRVL landing with two Paveway IVs (500lbs ones by the look of it) underwing, and take off in beast mode in wet weather.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDyxsYmFL-Q

noth · by **noth** » 21 May 2024, 20:45

A tidbit from a letter from James Cartlidge MP, Minister of State for Defence Procurement, to Jeremy Quin MP, Chair of the House of Commons Defence Committee

In our last report we advised that a period of developmental testing using Joint Program Office (JPO) Integrated Test Force F-35Bs on HMS PRINCE OF WALES had been deferred to autumn 2023, following HMS PRINCE OF WALES serviceability issues. This period of testing successfully took place in October 2023 with the intent to expand the embarked operating envelope for all F-35B aircraft onboard UK Queen Elizabeth Class Carriers and Shipborne Rolling Vertical Landings for the platform; the trials have formed the evidence base towards formal approval aimed to expand operating limits and authorise those procedures in an updated Royal Navy, Ship Air – Release.

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/plans-for-britains-f-35-fleet/