Those thirteen points - added Davis - not yet in line with expectations will have to be met within the next two months, but we remain optimistic.
"We have no intention of declaring the 'IOC' without first demonstrating the real capabilities of the fighter, and now it's up to us to prove what the F-35 told us it will be able to do. service of the JSF remains fixed at the 15 July ".
The Marine Corps will be the first military force in the world to certify the "Initial Operational Capability" of the F-35, the largest program in the history of the Pentagon.
By next July 1, therefore, the Pentagon promises to achieve and achieve all the essential requirements for certification of the IOC.
If the F-35 were to enter service regularly, the first squadron will be transferred to Japan in January of the 2017, to respond to possible crises in the Region. But before any kind of prediction, the Marine Corps reserves a specific inspection, in addition to that carried out by the Pentagon, to evaluate the hunt.
Davis was clear. "I will not give my Marine an aircraft that can not fight. And this must know everyone. Our inspection will last two weeks ".
Davis added that there are some problems to solve such as the purchase of spare parts sufficient to allow the risk of new fighters, final design changes, software and mission data files.
Lockheed delivered 33 of the 340 F-35Bs purchased from the Marine Corps Corp in addition to the 80 F-35Cs to be deployed on aircraft carriers.
By July, the Marines will have more than fifty F-35-qualified pilots and more than 400 servicemen specialized in maintenance.
The Air Force will reach F-35A's Initial Operational Capacity as soon as the first 12-24 aircraft squadron has been formed, with trained aviators and crews capable of carrying out close, suspended, and suppressed air support missions and destruction of enemy anti-aircraft defenses. The F-35A will reach Initial Operational Capacity between August and December of the 2016.
The Marine Corps equipped with the F-35B, will reach the initial operational capacity as soon as the first squadron formed by 10-16 aircraft, with infantry and crews trained to carry out missions of close air support, interdiction, armed reconnaissance and support with land forces. The F-35B will reach the Initial Operating Capacity in just over two months.
Finally, the US Navy, equipped with the F-35C, will reach the Initial Operational Capacity as soon as the first squadron composed of 10 aircraft has been formed, with personnel and navy pilots trained and able to carry out the assigned missions. The F-35C will reach the Initial Operational Capacity between August 2018 and February 2019.
The 55 years of life of the F-35 hunt will cost US $ 1500 billions of dollars.
In addition to the United States, hunting has been ordered from Great Britain, Australia, Italy, Turkey, Norway, the Netherlands, Japan, South Korea and Israel.
Franco Iacch
(photo: Lockheed Martin)
