F-35 IOC dates revealed

The Department of Defense has revealed the Initial Operating Capability (IOC) dates for the F-35 for all three variants, as required by law.

The F-35A for the Air Force, which is the largest in number of the three, will see an IOC date of between August and December 2016, provided that IMS 7 executes according to plan. IOC would be a squadron of 12-24 aircraft, with enough trained personnel to support CAS, interdiction, and limited SEAD/DEAD.

This is a change from the previous AF plan, which would wait until the Block 3F software came online. It means that they will declare IOC with either the 2B, or 3i software.

The F-35B for the Marines will be declared operational with the 2B software, between July and December 2015. IOC will be 10-16 aircraft ready to perform CAS, Offensive and Defensive Counter-Air, air interdiction, assault support escort, and armed recon. They will require ALIS V2 software to declare IOC.

The Navy, with the F-35C will stick firm to the requirement for Block 3F software for IOC. IOC will be declared between August 2018 and February 2019, and will consist of 10 aircraft manned and ready to perform their mission.

www.scribd.com...

Funny to see SEAD/DEAD listed... that's what I worked on for years starting with the F-4G...

Got a look at the F-35 a few years before I retired... impressive airframe.

reply to post by madmac5150


I couldn't believe when they got rid of the F-4G, and EF-111 at the same time, and killed the SEAD mission for the Air Force. I was like WTF.

Originally posted by Zaphod58
reply to post by madmac5150

 

I couldn't believe when they got rid of the F-4G, and EF-111 at the same time, and killed the SEAD mission for the Air Force. I was like WTF.

Retiring the F-4G/RF-4 kinda made sense, but I will never understand why they got rid of the EF-111, those planes could in all honesty still be flying useful missions today.

Originally posted by Antonio1

Originally posted by Zaphod58
reply to post by madmac5150

 

I couldn't believe when they got rid of the F-4G, and EF-111 at the same time, and killed the SEAD mission for the Air Force. I was like WTF.

Retiring the F-4G/RF-4 kinda made sense, but I will never understand why they got rid of the EF-111, those planes could in all honesty still be flying useful missions today.

The F-4G was in need of retirement. I miss working on the ol girls, but I don't miss the days of going home from work soaked in hydro fluid and jet fuel... and a Weasel not leaking fluids meant that the systems were empty. The F-111 was also getting expensive to fly and maintain, just as the Weasel. Great aircraft in their day... sadly their days have passed...

The SEAD/DEAD mission never went away, just passed on to other aircraft. I worked F-16CJs and they did the mission quite well.

reply to post by Zaphod58


Hi.
They've been putting on quite a show in the last couple of weekends.
They've been flying directly over my house on they're latest approached to the airport.
I swear they hover over my house it seems...and I'm always in the middle of something when it happens!!!!!

They provided my guests with entertainment during my cookout yesterday. As they watched in awe...I gushed on and on about them. They flew low enough to wave at them and know that they could definitely see us...all we had to do was look directly above...we felt the hot breeze (well...maybe that part was just in my head)
It was awesome...as usual.
I promise...when my budget allows for it...a new camera phone will always be in my hand. More camera than phone I say! Anti-shaking...filters...FLIR and nightvision...HD all the way.

Ahhh...a girl can dream.

I love you...F35.

reply to post by AFewGoodWomen


Here we go again....

Originally posted by boomer135
reply to post by AFewGoodWomen

 

Here we go again....

Tee hee...times are tough man. Camera phones are a luxury.

I got a B-day in August...I'm throwing hints around like mad.
They'll still be flying by then...

reply to post by Zaphod58


I am personally more than a little doubtful of the entire F-35 program. Making it worse still is that the F-22 production lines was shut down after only 180 some-odd examples had been produced.

Here we are in the gap between an unproven Lightening II and our aging fleet of F-15s and F-16s with but a handful of F-22s to cover.

Two notes would be:
The F-22 has proven itself far superior to any advanced fighter in the air.
The F-14 Tomcat that the navy dumped for the F-18 Superhornet, is still superior. In fact, the US was so worried that Iran could maintain its fleet of F-14s leftover from the 1970s, they advanced the date for their retirement by 8 years to secure parts that Iran might have gotten to maintain their planes. The never-produced F-14 Allycat never made production because of worry over technology that Iran might have gotten from the retired versions.

The Tomcat ruled the skies for a long time.

Originally posted by madmac5150

Originally posted by Antonio1

Originally posted by Zaphod58
reply to post by madmac5150

 

I couldn't believe when they got rid of the F-4G, and EF-111 at the same time, and killed the SEAD mission for the Air Force. I was like WTF.

Retiring the F-4G/RF-4 kinda made sense, but I will never understand why they got rid of the EF-111, those planes could in all honesty still be flying useful missions today.

The F-4G was in need of retirement. I miss working on the ol girls, but I don't miss the days of going home from work soaked in hydro fluid and jet fuel... and a Weasel not leaking fluids meant that the systems were empty. The F-111 was also getting expensive to fly and maintain, just as the Weasel. Great aircraft in their day... sadly their days have passed...

The SEAD/DEAD mission never went away, just passed on to other aircraft. I worked F-16CJs and they did the mission quite well.

edit on 2-6-2013 by madmac5150 because: My cat made me

*Magnum" I Love the F-16 so much , Sead I have heard of suppress but what is Dead? I have not heard this term , sorry if my question is dumb.

reply to post by kuhl


Instead of suppressing defenses by making them shut radars and electronics off, you destroy them instead. Same mission, more boom.

reply to post by Zaphod58


Ah I see ...

Hence Dead lol so cool!!

Cheers mate

Originally posted by AFewGoodWomen

Originally posted by boomer135
reply to post by AFewGoodWomen

 

Here we go again....

Tee hee...times are tough man. Camera phones are a luxury.

I got a B-day in August...I'm throwing hints around like mad.
They'll still be flying by then...

edit on 3-6-2013 by AFewGoodWomen because: (no reason given)

Oh come on now. My original cellphone in 1999 was that annoying nokia with the "Scream" movie sound for a ringer and it had a camera. You can honestly tell me that you don't have a camera on your phone? The only phone I can find on the internet without a camera is the jitterbug!

Originally posted by boomer135

Originally posted by AFewGoodWomen

Originally posted by boomer135
reply to post by AFewGoodWomen

 

Here we go again....

Tee hee...times are tough man. Camera phones are a luxury.

I got a B-day in August...I'm throwing hints around like mad.
They'll still be flying by then...

edit on 3-6-2013 by AFewGoodWomen because: (no reason given)

Oh come on now. My original cellphone in 1999 was that annoying nokia with the "Scream" movie sound for a ringer and it had a camera. You can honestly tell me that you don't have a camera on your phone? The only phone I can find on the internet without a camera is the jitterbug!

Hey...no need to laugh at me...I have a 100yr old trak phone with 100 minutes a month!!!!! I've never owned a brand new car either...want to make me feel even more like a loser???

I can honestly tell you that I've never had a camera phone...I've had a camera...and a phone...just not a camera phone. Priorities man...my kids can't eat a camera phone.

Or....maybe I've just been lying to you guys the whole time about seeing f35's...yeah, that's it...I'm lying.

Anyway...................................

reply to post by AFewGoodWomen


Well once a marine always a marine. So I really do hope your telling the truth for the sake of the Corps. And so we can break the biggest story in aviation today.

The F-14 Tomcat that the navy dumped for the F-18 Superhornet, is still superior. In fact, the US was so worried that Iran could maintain its fleet of F-14s leftover from the 1970s, they advanced the date for their retirement by 8 years to secure parts that Iran might have gotten to maintain their planes. The never-produced F-14 Allycat never made production because of worry over technology that Iran might have gotten from the retired versions.

The Tomcat ruled the skies for a long time.

Im guessing...you like the F-14? I like the way you subtly went from F-35 to F-14 too!! Lol.

I liked the F-14 but move on man!!

Originally posted by redoubt
reply to post by Zaphod58

 

I am personally more than a little doubtful of the entire F-35 program. Making it worse still is that the F-22 production lines was shut down after only 180 some-odd examples had been produced.

Here we are in the gap between an unproven Lightening II and our aging fleet of F-15s and F-16s with but a handful of F-22s to cover.

Two notes would be:
The F-22 has proven itself far superior to any advanced fighter in the air.
The F-14 Tomcat that the navy dumped for the F-18 Superhornet, is still superior. In fact, the US was so worried that Iran could maintain its fleet of F-14s leftover from the 1970s, they advanced the date for their retirement by 8 years to secure parts that Iran might have gotten to maintain their planes. The never-produced F-14 Allycat never made production because of worry over technology that Iran might have gotten from the retired versions.

The Tomcat ruled the skies for a long time.

It appears Iran has been maintaining the F-14's quite well even to this day. Note that pre-revolution Iran chose the F-14 as a ground-based aircraft, without any serious ocean-going navy.

The 1980's Iran-Iraq war was the only time there was any reasonably 'equal' test between US and USSR aircraft technology of comparable vintage since perhaps Korean war (where the USSR's aircraft were remarkably good). The Tomcat obliterated Iraq's MiG and Sukhois and even some contemporary French Mirage's. Soviet pilots and instructors were even flying on Iraq's side (obviously no US help on Iran's side).


www.acig.org...

books.google.com... Y58&hl=en&sa=X&ei=0Ke6UcqvFobeyAGd-YBw&ved=0CFAQ6AEwBDgK#v=onepage&q=f-14%20performance%20iran%20iraq%20war&f=false

During Gulf War I, Iraq's pilots always ran away from Tomcats even though they tried to engage F-16 and F-15.

I think people may underestimate the effect of the Iran-Iraq war and Gulf War I on the fall of the USSR. 1980's Iraq was a heavy Soviet ally. Iran's human-wave ground army was medieval and pathetic, but the air war was modern and technological. Iraq, despite explicit help from USSR and France, including actual Soviet pilots, did not perform well vs an isolated Iran with USA technology. The final blow came with Gulf War I and the total dominance of the F-117A against an operational and extensive Russian-designed air-defense network. I remember some Russian observers mentioning to media that they were relieved that they never had a war with NATO because they realized they would have lost very badly without using nuclear weapons.

In 1990-1991, The Soviets realized then that they fully lost the Cold War, as opposed to the 1950's and 1960s when they thought, with some justification they were at least equal if not ahead in some areas, with good reason----rocketry, and in actual combat air engagements [Korea & Vietnam] they had good reason to feel that way during that time. Back then, USA pilots in engaging against 3rd world Korea & Vietnamese pilots in Russian craft and SAM's didn't do so well.