STOVL Aircraft Performs Low-Speed Landing At Pax River
Australia's Minister for Defence, Senator John Faulkner
(pictured), confirmed on Thursday that the Australian Government
remains confident the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is the right
choice for the Australian Defence Force's next-generation air
combat capability, and will enable the Australian Defence Force to
maintain its strategic air combat capability advantage out to
2030.
Responding to the recent developments in the JSF program,
Senator Faulkner noted that the JSF program would produce over 3000
aircraft for United States (US) Services and international
partners. Senator Faulkner said, "As with all highly complex and
cutting edge projects, risks are to be expected."
"As I said on 2 February 2010, the Australian Government's
staged acquisition strategy for the JSF includes significant cost
and schedule buffers to deal with project risks which will ensure
initial operational capability in 2018 is met."
"Defence will continue to maintain close and regular contact
with the US to ensure the success of this vital project."
As a result of the latest US JSF cost update, US Defense Under
Secretary Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Dr Ashton Carter
has told the United States Senate Armed Services Committee that he
expected the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program to experience a
Nunn-McCurdy funding breach.
Nunn-McCurdy is US legislation which requires Congressional
review of major projects when growth in an acquisition program's
cost estimates exceeds specific thresholds. In the case of the JSF
Program, the Nunn-McCurdy breach involves growth in estimated costs
for the program exceeding 50 per cent since 2002. The thorough
review now required will be a continuation of the restructuring
process announced by Secretary Gates on 1 February 2010 in
expectation of a Nunn-McCurdy breach.
As the actual flight tests continue at NAS Patuxant River in
Maryland, the first STOVL F-35B on Wednesday completed one of its
last missions before the aircraft's first vertical landing. The
aircraft performed a low-speed landing, flying as slow as 40
knots.
The flight confirmed the jet's power and controllability at very
low speeds. The aircraft's short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL)
propulsion system generates more than 41,000 pounds of vertical
thrust, and enables airspeeds from zero to Mach 1.6.
The F-35B will be flown by the United States Marine Corps, the
United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, and the Italian
Air Force and Navy. It will be capable of operating from small
ships and austere bases near front-line combat zones. F-35 Lead
STOVL Pilot Graham Tomlinson was at the controls for Wednesday's
flight.