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F-35
A 398 billion failure, or the next F-15? What is the F-35?
An ambitious proposal to turn the large amounts of fighter craft in the air fleet into one synonymous aircraft that could do it all was always a dream. It was not until the Joint Strike program (the JSF for short) began developing a new aircraft to replace the aging fleets of F-15s and F-16s in the US arsenal where the proposals seemed to gain traction. Chosen among the various competitors including Boeing and McDonald Douglass aerospace company’s prototypes was the Lockheed Martin’s X-35, chosen above the rest to be the next in a long line of aircraft.
The F-35 was at first designed to fulfill every role – that of a ground strike aircraft, a fighter that could contend for air superiority, one that could be used in quick missions and including vertical take-off capabilities, and one that could take off from aircraft carriers, all including stealth. It was quickly realized that this was nearly impossible, and the project took its first turn. The plane types diverged into the F-35A, F-35B, and F-35C. The F-35A is the most conventional one, being the lightest, with normal take-off capabilities. The F-35B is designed for less luxurious runways, perfect for the Marine Corps, who commonly use helicopter carrier types of ships, and the vertical take-off capabilities of the F-35B allow it to be utilized. By rotating the thrust nozzle downwards, the jet can ascend vertically without using a traditional runway. The F-35C is the naval variant, compatible with the steam catapults of the aircraft carriers. The F-35 family, unlike the F-15, has only one engine, which is important to note.
While the plan seemed all good and well, a slew of problems was encountered by the teams making the jet. Various incidents and accidents happened, such as crashes, and software and hardware problems drew the cost of the budget higher. Plus, there are questions regarding the necessity of the craft. The craft has been called too clumsy for dogfighting and the strike capabilities of the craft are already being fulfilled by the A-10 Warthog, which many ground troops have been saved by. With the success of the Warthog, one would wonder why it would need to be replaced while it is still very effective.
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By Joshua Wu
5
11 ratings
A 398 billion failure, or the next F-15? What is the F-35?
An ambitious proposal to turn the large amounts of fighter craft in the air fleet into one synonymous aircraft that could do it all was always a dream. It was not until the Joint Strike program (the JSF for short) began developing a new aircraft to replace the aging fleets of F-15s and F-16s in the US arsenal where the proposals seemed to gain traction. Chosen among the various competitors including Boeing and McDonald Douglass aerospace company’s prototypes was the Lockheed Martin’s X-35, chosen above the rest to be the next in a long line of aircraft.
The F-35 was at first designed to fulfill every role – that of a ground strike aircraft, a fighter that could contend for air superiority, one that could be used in quick missions and including vertical take-off capabilities, and one that could take off from aircraft carriers, all including stealth. It was quickly realized that this was nearly impossible, and the project took its first turn. The plane types diverged into the F-35A, F-35B, and F-35C. The F-35A is the most conventional one, being the lightest, with normal take-off capabilities. The F-35B is designed for less luxurious runways, perfect for the Marine Corps, who commonly use helicopter carrier types of ships, and the vertical take-off capabilities of the F-35B allow it to be utilized. By rotating the thrust nozzle downwards, the jet can ascend vertically without using a traditional runway. The F-35C is the naval variant, compatible with the steam catapults of the aircraft carriers. The F-35 family, unlike the F-15, has only one engine, which is important to note.
While the plan seemed all good and well, a slew of problems was encountered by the teams making the jet. Various incidents and accidents happened, such as crashes, and software and hardware problems drew the cost of the budget higher. Plus, there are questions regarding the necessity of the craft. The craft has been called too clumsy for dogfighting and the strike capabilities of the craft are already being fulfilled by the A-10 Warthog, which many ground troops have been saved by. With the success of the Warthog, one would wonder why it would need to be replaced while it is still very effective.