F-35 Weapons Load

[Daryl Hunt]

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, FL. -- Airmen from the 33rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron load an AIM-9X missile on to a F-35A’s external weapons pylon July 20, 2016 here.

This milestone was the first time an F-35A here was loaded with internal and external weapons and will help develop weapon-loading procedures for the F-35 program.

The F-35 is capable of carrying weapons both internally and externally to adapt to mission needs.

F-35 Weapons Load > Eglin Air Force Base > Article Display

 

[deltex1]

I'd rather see the weapons drop on Isis heads. Can't wait for Trump.

 

[Daryl Hunt]

I'd rather see the weapons drop on Isis heads. Can't wait for Trump.

Regardless of who the next prez is, look for it to happen before the end of the year. And look for the Marines to begin operation as well in the ME.

 

[AnCap'n_Murica]

Biggest money pit in military history.

 

[Daryl Hunt]

Biggest money pit in military history.

Whatzamadder, you jealous?

 

[AnCap'n_Murica]

No, I'm sane.

You could have bought an entire air group of new and upgraded A-10s for a squadron of F-35s.

 

[Daryl Hunt]

No, I'm sane.

You could have bought an entire air group of new and upgraded A-10s for a squadron of F-35s.

And you could have lost 10 times that amount going after the radar sites and missile sites.

 

[Daryl Hunt]

Hey, now that is an idea. Buy more A-10s than they can make missiles, radar sites and such. Then fly them into the warzone so that the A-10s can get shot down expending all the enemies defensive and offensive weapons. What a way to win a war (NOT)

 

[AnCap'n_Murica]

Here's an idea; let's not build weapons systems that cost $150 MM or more per unit, and that the Air Force actually asked for.

That would've stuck a fork in both the F-35 and the Osprey.

 

[Daryl Hunt]

Here's an idea; let's not build weapons systems that cost $150 MM or more per unit, and that the Air Force actually asked for.

That would've stuck a fork in both the F-35 and the Osprey.

Fine, let's build what that AF wants. They want the F-35 at 85 mil each. Looks like they got their wish.

 

[AnCap'n_Murica]

Wrong again.

The Air Force, in its 20-year strategic forecast entitled "America's Air Force: A Call to the Future," has called for an end to big-ticket programs like the F-35. Instead, it plans to invest in what DOD officials have called more "agile" weapons that can be adapted for multiple uses.

The $1.5 trillion plane that broke the Air Force

 

[HUGGY]

Here's an idea; let's not build weapons systems that cost $150 MM or more per unit, and that the Air Force actually asked for.

That would've stuck a fork in both the F-35 and the Osprey.

Fine, let's build what that AF wants. They want the F-35 at 85 mil each. Looks like they got their wish.

85 million a copy isn't that much if they can't be seen and therefore are a safer ride for our pilots. Getting deeper into a war zone without wasting time and conventional aircraft seems like a much more lethal deployment.

 

[AnCap'n_Murica]

Here's an idea; let's not build weapons systems that cost $150 MM or more per unit, and that the Air Force actually asked for.

That would've stuck a fork in both the F-35 and the Osprey.

Fine, let's build what that AF wants. They want the F-35 at 85 mil each. Looks like they got their wish.

85 million a copy isn't that much if they can't be seen and therefore are a safer ride for our pilots. Getting deeper into a war zone without wasting time and conventional aircraft seems like a much more lethal deployment.

Try doubling that.

The 2014 procurement cost for 19 F-35As will be $2.989 billion. However, we need to add to that the “long lead” money for the 2014 buy that was appropriated in 2013; that was $293 million, making a total of $3.282 billion for 19 aircraft in 2014. The math for unit cost comes to $172.7 million for each aircraft.

To be fully accurate, however, we should add the additional procurement money authorized for “modification of aircraft” for F-35As for 2014; that means $158 million more, bringing the total unit production cost to $181 million per copy.

How much the F-35 Really Cost? | Defense Update:

 

[ThunderKiss1965]

Loaded ? I see nothing about flying with the weapon. The only thing I've heard was a successful 500 rd test of the 25mm cannon. Still aint buying this over priced turd.

 

[yiostheoy]

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, FL. -- Airmen from the 33rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron load an AIM-9X missile on to a F-35A’s external weapons pylon July 20, 2016 here.

This milestone was the first time an F-35A here was loaded with internal and external weapons and will help develop weapon-loading procedures for the F-35 program.

The F-35 is capable of carrying weapons both internally and externally to adapt to mission needs.

F-35 Weapons Load > Eglin Air Force Base > Article Display

So what little I know of combat aircraft however includes that you need air to air forward seeking missiles or you are a dead duck.

Guns are nice but guns are optional. However if the bandit slows down in front of you as you are tailing him, then your missiles won't arm in time. So you need some guns. Not much guns though because this rarely happens in a aerial dogfight. Usually it's missiles that are king.

 

[yiostheoy]

Here's an idea; let's not build weapons systems that cost $150 MM or more per unit, and that the Air Force actually asked for.

That would've stuck a fork in both the F-35 and the Osprey.

Fine, let's build what that AF wants. They want the F-35 at 85 mil each. Looks like they got their wish.

85 million a copy isn't that much if they can't be seen and therefore are a safer ride for our pilots. Getting deeper into a war zone without wasting time and conventional aircraft seems like a much more lethal deployment.

Now that the CIA has pissed off Putin in Ukraine, and the cold war is on again, with Putin menacing in Eastern Europe, the DOD does need to resume the fight for aerial combat superiority.

The Chinese have also built a very large air force to overshadow the South China Sea.

So here we go again.

 

[Natonorad]

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, FL. -- Airmen from the 33rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron load an AIM-9X missile on to a F-35A’s external weapons pylon July 20, 2016 here.

This milestone was the first time an F-35A here was loaded with internal and external weapons and will help develop weapon-loading procedures for the F-35 program.

The F-35 is capable of carrying weapons both internally and externally to adapt to mission needs.

F-35 Weapons Load > Eglin Air Force Base > Article Display

I know the F-35 program is several years behind. Is this the first time for your base, or the first time ever for the program?

 

[RubberGloveSeduction]

Here's an idea; let's not build weapons systems that cost $150 MM or more per unit, and that the Air Force actually asked for.

So first you say we should have built upgraded A-10s instead, then say your idea is to build what the Air Force actually asked for. So you want to fulfill the Air Force's request for a new multirole strike fighter by building upgraded versions of a 45 year old subsonic ground attack aircraft.

Never go full retard.... it's dangerous.

 

[RubberGloveSeduction]

The 2014 procurement cost for 19 F-35As will be $2.989 billion. However, we need to add to that the “long lead” money for the 2014 buy that was appropriated in 2013; that was $293 million, making a total of $3.282 billion for 19 aircraft in 2014. The math for unit cost comes to $172.7 million for each aircraft.

To be fully accurate, however, we should add the additional procurement money authorized for “modification of aircraft” for F-35As for 2014; that means $158 million more, bringing the total unit production cost to $181 million per copy.

How much the F-35 Really Cost? | Defense Update:[/QUOTE]
This is an article from January 2014, about individual procurement cost for F-35s in 2014. When new planes are coming off the line they are always more expensive in early production, the cost of F-35As in 2016 is not the same as in 2014 when only purchasing 19 nor will it be the same approaching 2020 when GAO estimates 85 million.

Your source isn't relevant to discussion of actual F-35 full rate production costs.

 

[RubberGloveSeduction]

The only thing I've heard was a successful 500 rd test of the 25mm cannon. Still aint buying this over priced turd.

AMRAAM
Asia Pacific Defence Reporter : APDR July-Aug 2016, Page 1
"TUCSON. Ariz., July 12, 2016. More than 30 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles have been fired from all three variants of the Joint Strike Fighter since testing began in 2013."


PGMs
US Air Force F-35A – On Track for Operational Capability | Defense Update:
“The F-35 recently deployed from Hill to Mountain Home where crews, maintenance, and support personnel conducted a number of missions.” Chase said, “During that deployment, crews attained a 100 percent sortie generation rate with 88 of 88 planned sorties and a 94 percent hit rate with 15 of 16 bombs on target. These numbers provide a positive indication of where we are when it comes to stability and component performance.” Through these flights the F-35s were challenged by F-15E aggressors, but the F-35s managed to complete all their missions with zero losses. The missions included Offensive Counter-Air (OCA), Air Interdiction (AI), Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD), Defensive Counter-Air (DCA) and Close Air Support (CAS)."


They have also been testing JSOW, used a lot for SEAD
VIDEO: F-35 begins Raytheon JSOW qualification flights