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.

FMI: www.defence.gov.au, www.lockheedmartin.com