Canada Looking at Alternatives to F-35 for CF-18 Replacement

In July 2010, Canada had announced that it would acquire 65 F-35 aircraft to replace its CF-18, which would reach the end of their lifespan sometime between 2017 and 2020.

The CF-18 is a slightly modified version of the F/A-18A/B Hornet, which entered service starting in 1983. The remaining aircraft of about 78 have since been upgraded to the F/A-18C/D standard.

However, the decision to select the F-35 from Lockheed Martin without a competition or cost analysis has been severely criticised by several different sources.

In December last year, Canada stated it would consider purchasing fighter aircraft other than the F-35 after a KPMG report estimated the cost of those 65 aircraft would amount to $43.8 billion over a period of 42 years.

Canada has now asked five companies,

• Boeing
• Lockheed Martin
• Dassault Aviation
• European Aeronautic, Defense & Space Company (EADS)
• Saab

to provide detailed technical information on a potential replacement for the CF-18, throwing open the race to win Canada's selection of its future fighter aircraft at the expense of the F-35.

Although the F-35 may again be selected as Canada's future fighter, this decision is another setback for the F-35 program, which has encountered numerous delays and other problems.

Should Canada, one of the eight F-35 partner countries of the US, not select the F-35, it would join several other countries, which have already delayed or reduced the number of F-35 aircraft to be procured.

Australia, another one of the eight partner countries, has already procured the F/A-18E/F recently and may buy more, which is almost certain at the very least reduce the number of F-35 to be purchased.

Boeing intends to again offer the F/A-18E/F to Canada as a candidate to replace the CF-18, where it will go up against the F-35, the Rafale, the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Gripen fighter aircraft.


http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-03/boeing-lockheed-among-5-fighter-jet-makers-queried-by-canada.html

By SSgt. Greg L. Davis, USAF [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

US Report Details Unresolved Issues With F-35 Program

An 18 page Pentagon report recently sent to the United States Congress has provided some details about the current state of the F-35 fighter Lightning II program, which at $396 billion makes it the most expensive weapons program in the history of the United States.

Lockheed Martin, the prime contractor, is to build 3 different models of the F-35 fighter for the United States, which plans to purchase 2443 of the aircraft. In addition, the plane will likely be acquired by eight other nations that helped pay for its development, including:

• Australia, 
• Canada, 
• Denmark, 
• Italy, 
• the Netherlands, 
• Norway, 
• Turkey,
• the United kingdom 

While Lockheed Martin has reported the F-35 plan overall remains on track with continued progress on flight tests, software development, and was demonstrating exceptional stability, the highlights of the report include the following:

• the program has completed a third or 20,000 of all planned test flights and has 39,579 left to go
• certain tests planned for 2012 by Lockheed Martin were not accomplished, but overall the number of tests completed in 2012 of 1092 exceeded the number planned of 927 by performing some future tests earlier
• the F-35A completed 30 percent less tests than planned due to problems with the weapon bay doors, operating limits of the aircraft and problems with the air refuelling system, which required new instrumentation
• the F-35B for the Marine Corps has issues with the engine lift fan built by Rolls Royce, a supplier to the engine maker, Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corp
• durability testing of the F-35B had to be halted after multiple cracks were found on the underside of the plane's fuselage
• the F-35C has problems with the ability to transfer video and imagery data to ships and a potentially serious problem with the coolant system
• during high-speed, high-altitude flights, the stealthy coatings peeled off on horizontal tail surfaces due to higher-than-expected temperatures
• software packages from Lockheed Martin needed to support flight tests were delayed or not complete when delivered
• both the advanced helmet and the computerized logistics system have issues that remain unresolved 
• weapons integration testing has been delayed by numerous factors, including problems with radar performance
• flight operations are currently banned within 25 miles of known lightning conditions due to issues with the system that protects the plane from fuel tank explosions caused by lightning
• the mean time between critical failures has increased and the aircraft weight has remained steady, but the aircraft's performance remains below the level expected at this point in time

Overall, the report revealed the F-35 fighter aircraft has yet to mature due the continued developmental problems of the program, which has already been restructured 3 times before to slow down production and allow continued development.


http://news.yahoo.com/pentagon-report-cites-lack-maturity-lockheed-f-35-012237872--finance.html

By U.S. Air Force [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

By Ahunt [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

By USMC [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

By USGov [Public domain], from Wikimedia Commons

By USGov [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Harbin AVIC Y-12F turboprop light transport aircraft

At Zhuhai Airshow 2012 the Y-12F, the latest version of the widely exported Harbin Y-12 light utility aircraft performed flight demonstrations for the public.

The Y-12F turboprop aircraft is designed by Harbin Aircraft Industry Group (HAIG), part of Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), for regional use with a spacious cabin that can accommodate 19 passengers or 3 LD3 containers.

The Harbin Y-12F features APEX avionics from Honeywell in the United States, PT6A-65B turbopropeller supplied by Pratt & Whitney in Canada and HC-B5MA-3/M10876AN low-noise, five-bladed propellers supplied by Hartzell in the United States.

The versatile Y-12F can be used for:

• transportation of passengers
• airdrop of supplies
• maritime surveillance
• aerial telemetry and photography
• remote sensing and geological prospecting

Harbin Y-12F specifications:

Aircraft length: 16.47 m
Aircraft height: 6.04 m
Wing span: 19.88 m
Wing aspect ratio: 10.02
Max. Speed: 480km/h
Cruise Speed: 430km/h
Service Ceiling: 7000m
Take-off Run Distance: 540m
Landing Run Distance: 420m

Max. Ramp Weight: 8450kg　
Max. Take-off Weight: 8400kg
Max. Landing Weight: 8000kg
Max. Zero Fuel Weight: 7750kg
Max. Payload: 3000kg
Max. Usable Fuel: 2500kg

Range (passenger version: 45min+200nm fuel reserve - Cargo version: 45min fuel reserve)
Passenger version	with 19 passengers	1540km
-	with max fuel	1930km
Cargo Version	with 19 passengers	950km
-	with max fuel	2300km
-	-	-

http://www.y-12.com.cn/y-12/home/index.do?cmd=goToChannel&language=US&cid=466