F-35: ground tests indicate the possibility of an extension of the life of the F-35A

(To Lockheed Martin)
19/09/18

The Joint Program Office of F-35 and Lockheed Martin completed the static, release and duration tests of the F-35. Preliminary test results indicate the possibility of certifying an extension of the operating life for the F-35A variant.

Tests, rigorously conducted, are aimed at demonstrating that the aircraft's strength and resilience make it suitable for operating in the complex scenarios in which it will be involved during its operational life. The final results will be used to support fleet management and to plan maintenance activities in the coming decades of operations.

"The F-35 technology pushes the limits of engineering and physics forward thanks to the combination of supersonic speed, agility, altitude and angle of attack, weapons equipment, ability to land vertically and operate from aircraft carriers and much more."Commented Greg Ulmer, vice president of Lockheed Martin and general manager of the F-35 program. "Durability tests give the men and women called to fly the F-35 great confidence in the aircraft's performance, today and for decades to come."

Ground tests include large-scale tests to verify the durability of the three variants, which were loaded on a single test bench and in laboratories to simulate load conditions, both on the ground and in flight, during operations. The operating life of the F-35 is 8.000 hours and each test aircraft is required to complete a test program for a total of hours that will cover twice the life of the aircraft, ie 16.000 hours. The F-35A has abundantly met this requirement, completing tests that correspond to three times the operational life of the aircraft, or 24.000 hours of simulated flight. These data allow us to hypothesize an extension of the operational life of the aircraft.

"We await the analysis of the results and the extrapolation of the final data to further extend the operational life of the aircraft, "added Ulmer. "The F-35 is already certified for a longest working life among fighter-bombers and a further extension would represent an important cost reduction for all F-35 customers in the coming decades.". 

The F-35A completed tests at BAE Systems in Brough, England, and variants B and C were tested at Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas. All variants will be subjected to final inspections at the National Institute for Aviation Research in Wichita, Kansas.  

Thanks to stealth technology, advanced sensors, enhanced weapon capacity and supersonic speed, the F-35 is the most advanced and interconnected fighter, able to guarantee the highest survival rate in the world. More than just hunting, the F-35's ability to collect, analyze and share data makes it a powerful force multiplier capable of enhancing all the assets, both air and ground, involved in the field, enabling men and to women in uniform to fulfill their missions and return.