Page 12 - Aerotech News and Review March 3 2017

F-35 program makes significant, solid progress
by Terri Moon Cronk
DOD News
Production of the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter is on a good trajectory and is a necessary aircraft in the military’s arsenal to battle high-end threats, service leaders told a House Armed Service Committee panel Feb. 16.
Providing an update on the the F-35 program to the subcommittee on tactical air and land forces were Air Force Lt. Gen. Christopher C. Bogdan, program executive officer, F-35 joint program office; Navy Rear Adm. DeWolfe “Chip” Miller III, director of air warfare; Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Jon M. Davis, deputy comman- dant of Marine Corps aviation; and Air Force Maj. Gen. Jerry D. Harris Jr., deputy chief of staff, strategic plans, programs and require- ments.
The program’s development, production and sustainment have made significant and solid progress, Bogdan said.
“The fleet is rapidly expanding and we’re fly- ing F-35s in the United States, Italy, Japan and Israel as we speak,” he said. “The development program is nearing completion within the cost and schedule boundaries put in place in the 2011 rebase line. And the program is also continuing to successfully ramp up production and accel- erating a standup of our global enterprise.” The general said today’s F-35 program is much dif- ferent than it was five years ago when he became the program executive officer. It now has a fleet of more than 210 airplanes that have surpassed 73,000 flight hours.
Operational, combat ready
The weapons system is considered opera- tional and combat ready by the Air Force and Marine Corps, Bogdan said, adding, “It is also forward-deployed today in Iwakuni, Japan, for the U.S. Marine Corps and operated in Israel and Italy by those F-35 customers.”
The price tag for an F-35A model costs is about $94.5 million today, marking a first in costing less than $100 million, he said.
“We believe we are on track to continue re- ducing the price of the F-35 such that in [fiscal year 2019], with an engine including all fees, the F-35A model will cost between $80 million and $85 million,” Bogdan said. “As part of this reduction, we have initiated a block buy strat- egy for our foreign partners and an economic order quantity contracting strategy for the U.S. services.”
Driving down F-35 costs
The overarching priority is continuing to drive costs down in the F-35 program while
Air Force photograph by Senior Airman Devante Williams
An F-35 Lightning II performs a maneuver Sept. 12, 2016 over Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. This sortie marks the 10,000th flying hour for the F-35 program at Luke.
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March 3, 2017
delivering full capability to the war fighter, he said.
“We will continue to execute this program with integrity, discipline and transparency and I hold myself and my team accountable for the outcomes on this program,” Bogdan told the panel. “Our team recognizes the great responsi- bility we’ve been given to provide the founda- tion of future U.S. and allied fighter capability for decades to come.”
“The F-35B and the F-35C remain a top acqui- sition priority for the Marine Corps,” Davis said. He said he is becoming increasingly convinced the F-35 is a game changer and a war winner, and added the Corps “can’t get those airplanes in the fleet fast enough to replace our F-18s and our Harriers,” which on average are 22 years old.
With the fifth-generation F-35, “We’re achiev- ing astounding results in the highest threat sce- narios and that across the range of military opera- tions fight, with the F-35. It is changing things in a very decisive way,” Davis said.
An acquisition priority
Along with the Marine Corps and Air Force, the F-35C is a Navy aviation acquisition prior- ity, Miller said.
“The F-35C will form the backbone of Navy air combat superiority for decades to come,” he said, adding its unique capabilities can’t be matched by modernizing the F-35 fourth-gen- eration aircraft.
With the F-35, the carrier strike group of the future will be more lethal, survivable and able
to accomplish the entire spectrum of mission sets to include immediate response to high-end threats, the admiral said.
The nation needs the capabilities of the F-35C on its carrier flight decks, Miller said. “The air- craft’s stealth characteristics, long-range com- bat identification and ability to penetrate threat envelopes while fusing multiple information sources into a coherent picture will transform the joint coalition view of the battlefield.”
Harris said the airplane is doing exactly what the military needs it to do.
“The final F-35A fleet is growing and will become a dominant force in our fifth-generation arsenal, deterring potential adversaries and as- suring both our allies and our partners at the same time,” the general said.
Half-Marathon, 5K/10K Run set to cut AV veteran homelessness
Antelope Valley Vets 4 Veterans is preparing for the 2nd Annual Operation Restart Half-Marathon and 5K/10K Run/Walk and All Patriot Mile to support veterans programs that help prevent homelessness in the veteran community.
The half-marathon, 5K/10K run/walk is set for 6-11 a.m. April 1 at the Antelope Valley Mall.
Registration and start line is in the Sears parking area.
Vets 4 Veterans, a local 501(c)3 organization, is in its eighth year of supporting vet- erans through scholarships, counseling, immediate needs assistance and the planning of a temporary housing solu- tion for at-risk veterans and their families.
The homeless veteran population in Los Angeles
County has risen by 6 percent over last year.
“The warriors who defend our country deserve access to all programs that
may assist them to live better,” Vets4Veterans President Tom Hilzendeger said. Like many members of the group, Hilzendeger is a Vietnam War veteran who felt called to serve the community by working actively on behalf of veterans who are facing difficult times. The group also has veterans of many other conflicts and periods of service, as well as patriotic private citizens who volunteer with
the group.
“We expect to have runners who join in the ‘half-marathon’ to get times that
can qualify them to compete in national level marathons,” said Tom Armfield, a Vets4Veterans run organizer.
For opportunities to volunteer, or participate in the event as a runner, Vets- 4Veterans is seeking veterans and veteran supporters, families, social service community groups, sports trainers, competitive and “fun” runners, joggers, ac- tive military, 1st responders and “anyone who wants to have fun out on a beautiful Saturday,” Hilzendeger said.
For more information or to register, visit www.avvets4veterans.orgActive.com.