F-35 delay's and other restrictions

Hi all more JSF delays...

See:-
http://www.aviationnow.com/avnow/new...s/06144wna.xml

F-35 In-Service Dates Slide
By Robert Wall
06/13/2004 08:29:39 PM

"Top Pentagon officials are about to consider a new course for the
F-35 Joint Strike Fighter that includes delaying the fielding by two
years.
The adjustments are merely the latest ripple stemming from the
Pentagon's realization last year that the fighter is overweight.
Managers have opted to spend more time and money early in the
development program to tackle the weight problem which is impacting,
in particular, the short takeoff and vertical landing (Stovl) version.
Program officials had already delayed design reviews and indicated
first flights of the various models would incur schedule slips.
The move will further complicate deliberations for British military
planners at a time when they are reviewing which version of the
multirole fighter to buy. If the U.K. bows out of the Stovl version,
it would buy the carrier-based configuration instead.
The Pentagon's top acquisition panel is to convene as early as this
week to discuss whether the new schedule is acceptable. The revised
plan calls for the U.S. Marine Corps to remain the first to field the
F-35. However, the in-service date is now projected to be 2012, rather
than 2010. The U.S. Air Force's initial operational capability with
the conventional takeoff and landing version (CTOL) has been delayed
to 2013 from 2011.
The U.S. Navy's carrier-based model would reach service in 2013, a
one-year delay rather than two."

See:-
http://www.themercury.news.com.au/co...55E462,00.html



"US arms sales blocked
By David Uren
14jun04

A PROPOSAL to liberalise American armament sales to Australia and
Britain as a reward for their support of the Iraq war has been blocked
by a powerful Congress committee.

The Bush administration had proposed that the requirement for
Australian and British importers of weapons to obtain US licences be
waived.
The House Committee on International Relations, however, concluded: "A
policy to relax weapons export controls seems unhinged from US
counter-terrorism and non-proliferation policy." The proposal covered
"non-sensitive" military equipment and was based on the assumption
that both Australia and Britain had controls over their weapons
industry that were comparable with those of the US. "


"The committee report, however, found that many of the low-sensitivity
items that would be subject to licence-free shipments could be
expected to figure prominently in the acquisition plans of
international terrorists.

They include shoulder-fired missiles, patrol vessels, body armour,
operational flight trainers, rockets, torpedoes, bombs, mines,
military explosives and propellants and large calibre ammunition. ."

"The committee was critical of Australia's weapons control
procedures."

"Australia's future export control system is still being debated
internally. Little is known about its details."

"It said Australia was wanting the US to change its own laws so that
Australia could gain exemptions from complying with all its
requirements. It also said Australia had given no commitment to
consult the US prior to weapons being re-exported to third countries."



Hmmm...

Doesn't bode well for JSF talks....

Cheers


John Cook

Any spelling mistakes/grammatic errors are there purely to annoy. All
opinions are mine, not TAFE's however much they beg me for them.

Email Address :-
Spam trap - please remove (trousers) to email me
Eurofighter Website :- http://www.eurofighter-typhoon.co.uk

What a big shock, Lock-Mart == over promise, under deliver...


"John Cook" wrote in message
...
Hi all more JSF delays...

See:-

http://www.aviationnow.com/avnow/new...s/06144wna.xml

F-35 In-Service Dates Slide
By Robert Wall
06/13/2004 08:29:39 PM

"Top Pentagon officials are about to consider a new course for the
F-35 Joint Strike Fighter that includes delaying the fielding by two
years.
The adjustments are merely the latest ripple stemming from the
Pentagon's realization last year that the fighter is overweight.
Managers have opted to spend more time and money early in the
development program to tackle the weight problem which is impacting,
in particular, the short takeoff and vertical landing (Stovl) version.
Program officials had already delayed design reviews and indicated
first flights of the various models would incur schedule slips.
The move will further complicate deliberations for British military
planners at a time when they are reviewing which version of the
multirole fighter to buy. If the U.K. bows out of the Stovl version,
it would buy the carrier-based configuration instead.
The Pentagon's top acquisition panel is to convene as early as this
week to discuss whether the new schedule is acceptable. The revised
plan calls for the U.S. Marine Corps to remain the first to field the
F-35. However, the in-service date is now projected to be 2012, rather
than 2010. The U.S. Air Force's initial operational capability with
the conventional takeoff and landing version (CTOL) has been delayed
to 2013 from 2011.
The U.S. Navy's carrier-based model would reach service in 2013, a
one-year delay rather than two."

See:-

http://www.themercury.news.com.au/co...55E462,00.html



"US arms sales blocked
By David Uren
14jun04

A PROPOSAL to liberalise American armament sales to Australia and
Britain as a reward for their support of the Iraq war has been blocked
by a powerful Congress committee.

The Bush administration had proposed that the requirement for
Australian and British importers of weapons to obtain US licences be
waived.
The House Committee on International Relations, however, concluded: "A
policy to relax weapons export controls seems unhinged from US
counter-terrorism and non-proliferation policy." The proposal covered
"non-sensitive" military equipment and was based on the assumption
that both Australia and Britain had controls over their weapons
industry that were comparable with those of the US. "


"The committee report, however, found that many of the low-sensitivity
items that would be subject to licence-free shipments could be
expected to figure prominently in the acquisition plans of
international terrorists.

They include shoulder-fired missiles, patrol vessels, body armour,
operational flight trainers, rockets, torpedoes, bombs, mines,
military explosives and propellants and large calibre ammunition. ."

"The committee was critical of Australia's weapons control
procedures."

"Australia's future export control system is still being debated
internally. Little is known about its details."

"It said Australia was wanting the US to change its own laws so that
Australia could gain exemptions from complying with all its
requirements. It also said Australia had given no commitment to
consult the US prior to weapons being re-exported to third countries."



Hmmm...

Doesn't bode well for JSF talks....

Cheers


John Cook

Any spelling mistakes/grammatic errors are there purely to annoy. All
opinions are mine, not TAFE's however much they beg me for them.

Email Address :-
Spam trap - please remove (trousers) to email me
Eurofighter Website :- http://www.eurofighter-typhoon.co.uk

On Thu, 17 Jun 2004 01:18:57 GMT, "Mitch Benjamin"
wrote:

What a big shock, Lock-Mart == over promise, under deliver...


To be fair the the specification is very hard, a STOVL, supersonic,
three way compatable, cheap, that fulfills a dozen countries future
fight/bomber requirements, with adequate workshare, within a very
tight timeframe!!, any one of these could cause problems, as a group
of challenges they are quite formidable.

a Posible solution- I think they might (just might) cut a varient, to
make it two main varients with a 'bodgy' third varient.

Which one of the varients is the most likely to be cut? my monies on
the CTOL, a modified STVOL with a fuel tank instead of the lift fan
would give the best bodgy CTOL third varient, range would nearly be in
the original CTOL range.

Any other suggestions to make the program easier?.


Cheers


John Cook

Any spelling mistakes/grammatic errors are there purely to annoy. All
opinions are mine, not TAFE's however much they beg me for them.

Email Address :-
Spam trap - please remove (trousers) to email me
Eurofighter Website :- http://www.eurofighter-typhoon.co.uk

"John Cook" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 17 Jun 2004 01:18:57 GMT, "Mitch Benjamin"
wrote:

What a big shock, Lock-Mart == over promise, under deliver...


To be fair the the specification is very hard, a STOVL, supersonic,
three way compatable, cheap, that fulfills a dozen countries future
fight/bomber requirements, with adequate workshare, within a very
tight timeframe!!, any one of these could cause problems, as a group
of challenges they are quite formidable.

Agreed, it's unlikely to be ready by any of the earliest dates mentioned.
2012 is optimistic for full scale production.

a Posible solution- I think they might (just might) cut a varient, to
make it two main varients with a 'bodgy' third varient.

I think they'll prefer to run late rather than make any serious compromises.

Which one of the varients is the most likely to be cut? my monies on
the CTOL, a modified STVOL with a fuel tank instead of the lift fan
would give the best bodgy CTOL third varient, range would nearly be in
the original CTOL range.

STVOL without the fan is desired by a few users. That lift fan space has a
few possible uses. In no order or practicality: 2nd seat, power take off for
the dreamed of laser weapon, fuel tank, photorecon, something you can drop,
some more spook related applications etc ....

Any other suggestions to make the program easier?.

Yep, address the most obvious problems with delivery. So far all the
partners assume they'll get their aircraft first, secondly some non-partners
believe they can use political muscle to jump the queue. So the obvious
answer is to tell the non-partners to ^&^$# off, unless they want to pay a
very heft late entry fee, and then sort out the production sequence for the
partner countries (based on who's going to place real orders up front and
what will be available). This should be the "Show me the money" production
queue.

OK, that addresses simplifying delivery. In this current SDD phase it's a
matter of remaining focused and not picking on every deficiency identified.
Give the guys a chance to resolve it first! It would seem the majority of
the buyers are not after the STOVL version so, focus on the more
conventional variants and get that rolling off the production line. You fill
orders, get money, and give the guys a chance to sort out the STOVL variant.
Of course, we all know that the US and UK won't accept that because they
have to get their aircraft first.....

--
The Raven
http://www.80scartoons.co.uk/batfinkquote.mp3
** President of the ozemail.* and uunet.* NG's
** since August 15th 2000.