16 Feb 2020, 08:25
Update: Newer F-35As cracking due to gun use
14 Feb 2020 Pat Host
"[nothing we don't already know in this very brief excerpt and I don't have the full 90% extra woids]"
Source: https://www.janes.com/article/94336/upd ... to-gun-use
28 Feb 2020, 19:18
Lockheed Martin responds to concerns about Pentagon-identified F-35A issues
06 FEBRUARY 2020 By: Stephen Kuper
Regarding concerns about the continued use of the F-35A variant's main 25mm gun impacting the low observable skins of the F-35A and issues relating to the accuracy of the weapon system, the Lockheed Martin spokesperson explained:
"The F-35 enterprise has made significant progress regarding the F-35 gun since the data used for the DOT&E report. In the F-35A integral gun, we have implemented software updates and installed a field gun alignment aid to ensure proper gun barrel position. We tested this in December and the results were improved accuracy."
The Lockheed Martin spokesperson added, "It should be noted that the B and C models carry a LO belly gun pod mounted on centerline and had no barrel alignment issues. As for the software on all variants, conversion conditions and algorithms were reviewed. Updated conversions have been implemented in the software and the corrected software has been delivered to the field.
"It remains the warfighter’s choice when to update to the newest software. This software provides improved precision, further highlighting the value of agile software implementation. We knew the complexity of incorporating a gun on a high performance aircraft would be a challenge, but we are confident in the steps we’ve taken and the progress we’ve made."
Air Force expects fix this spring to cracked F-35 panels caused by gun misalignment
By Courtney Albon February 7, 2020
The Air Force expects the F-35 program will begin fielding a fix this spring that will address problems with the A-model gun that have caused cracks in the muzzle. A recent report from the Pentagon's top weapons tester highlighted continued problems with the F-35A gun’s accuracy, which it attributed to a misaligned muzzle. That misalignment has caused cracks in the panel surrounding the muzzle and led to a decision by the Air Force to restrict gun use for low-rate initial...
28 Feb 2020, 19:22
Now the F-35 cannon hits better. It's just one of several improvements in recent months
– The F-35 delivers on time, cost and with a better performance than expected," the Norwegian Ministry of Defence states.
PER ERLIEN DALLØKKEN DEFENSE 13. FEB 2020 - 7 p.m.
As The Technical Magazine reported last week, there is still much to address when it comes to the development of the F-35 combat aircraft, according to the latest report by us Pentagon gun testers.
As of November 4, 2019, there were still 873 discrepancies or deficiencies in the F-35 program, several of them of a critical nature, according to this year's review from the Department of Operational Testing and Evaluation in the U.S. Department of Defense(DOT & ).
However, the Norwegian Ministry of Defence is not particularly concerned:
– All of the aforementioned problems in the report are well known to us, and we are constantly working to resolve these. The F-35 delivers on time, cost and with a better performance than expected, the ministry writes in an E-mail to Teknisk Ukeblad.
Improvement after update
Among those highlighted in the report are what is described as a lag of faults that need to be addressed to ensure that the F-35s have a robust and stable machine and software before introducing a number of new capacities in Block 4.
Another known problem area is the Autonomic Logistics Information System (Alis). This is an all-round system where everything from logistics to operational flying and briefing is built in. Here, the Air Force in Norway through its operational test and evaluation of the F-35 has also uncovered some errors and deficiencies. DOT & points out that despite several Alis updates in 2019, the system remains inefficient and cumbersome.
Another concrete example of weakness on the combat aircraft, which DOT & highlights, is that the 25-millimeter cannon on the F-35A should have an unacceptable poor accuracy due to misassembly of the weapon installed inside just above the left air intake on the aircraft.
The Ministry of Defence uses the same example but with the opposite sign:
– The report is based on collected data from the period up to September 2019 and does not reflect work on bug fixes that have occurred in the period since then. One example of this is improved match safety with the built-in machine cannon. After software updates on this system and installing an aid to ensure proper positioning of the machine cannon, we see from tests in December that this provides better accuracy, the ministry said.
Promises continued transparency
The Ministry further writes that it is working continuously to improve and address all identified efficiency and suitability challenges on the F-35, and promises to remain open about any challenges to be addressed.
As has been evident in Teknisk Ukeblad's previous mentions of the DOT & reviews, these are discrepancies where the mandate is to point to errors and deficiencies – not only in the F-35 program, but also in the testing of other major material systems procured by the different U.S. arms branches.
This is also something the Ministry of Defence comes in after being asked to comment on the content of the message from the Director Operational Test & Evaluation.
– Naturally, the report focuses on the challenges that still exist," points out areas that need to be adjusted to get full use of the weapon system and make concrete recommendations on measures. As a partner in the program, we greatly appreciate the quality assurance DOT & contributes to the program and which they document through their annual reports.
Nato mission in two weeks
Two years after the first three aircraft landed on Norwegian soil, the Air Force declared the first operational capability (IOC) with its squadron of 15 F-35A aircraft stationed at Ørland. This happened in November 2019 after the F-35 system had passed the test by moving planes, people and equipment to Rygge and operating from there, what defense officials call deploying.
In a couple of weeks' time, the 332 squadron travels to Iceland on its first overseas mission. Here they will exercise air control on behalf of Nato, so-called "air policing."
This capacity and emergency response, "Quick Reaction Alert" (QRA), is going on a tour among Nato countries. The last time Norway was in charge was in June 2016.
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