First JSF With Mission Systems Arrives At Navy Test Site

The first mission systems-equipped Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II test jet joined the fleet at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, MD, Monday.

Piloted by F-35 Test Pilot Dave "Doc" Nelson, the short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) F-35B known as BF-4 became the fourth F-35 to arrive and begin testing at the Naval Air Systems Command site. The STOVL variant will be employed by the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.K. Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, and the Italian Air Force and Navy.

"This mission systems aircraft adds a new dimension to the F-35 flight testing under way at PAX River," said Tom Burbage, Lockheed Martin executive vice president and general manager of F-35 Program Integration. "Now, in addition to validating the aerodynamic capabilities and flying qualities of these jets, we will have the opportunity to confirm the performance of what we expect to be a transcendent avionics capability – the most capable ever in a fighter." A fifth F-35B, along with the first Navy carrier variant, is expected to join the fleet later this year at Patuxent River.

The F-35's avionics, or mission systems, enable the jet to perform a wide variety of missions by providing the pilot with unprecedented situational awareness – through the processing and fusion of data from both on-board and off-board sources. The F-35's next-generation sensor suite makes it possible to collect vast amounts of information, and present the data on state-of-the-art cockpit and helmet displays. This allows the pilot to make faster and more effective tactical decisions and transfer information to other aircraft and to maritime and ground forces.

But all is still not well with at least one of the program's international partners. Dutch Labour Party leader Job Cohen wants the government to wait at least four years before deciding whether to buy the Joint Strike Fighter. Mr Cohen says a decision is not needed in the coming four years as the existing F-16s should last a long time. He was speaking at an election gala in Amsterdam.

The Labour leader says the funds necessary to acquire the expensive jets can be better used for other matters. Mr Cohen first wants to study what the need for the JSF is and which fighter jet can best replace the F-16.

Dutch parliamentary elections are being held Wednesday.

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