The incident occurred on 23 last June, at the Air Force Englin base in Florida. The fire developed in the tail section of the plane. No one was involved in the accident.
Even if the causes are not yet known, the engine of the F-35 is under investigation, already at the center of numerous controversies over the years. The current engine is built by Pratt & Whitney, but since 2010 the hypothesis of building (and financing) an alternative engine that would be made by General Electric had been put forward. The proposal was immediately rejected by both President Obama and the military leaders: no one could have justified the increase in the already significant budget. The contract with the reserve engine was eliminated and now the F-35 has to troubleshoot its only propulsion system available for the JSF.
The Air Force will reach the initial operational capacity of the F-35A as soon as the first squad consisting of 12-24 aircraft will be formed, with trained aviators and crews able to perform close air support missions, interdiction and limited suppression and destruction of enemy anti-aircraft defenses.
The F-35A will reach full initial operational capability between August and December of the 2016. The corps of marines equipped with the F-35B, will reach the initial operational capacity as soon as the first squad consisting of 10-16 aircraft will be formed, with infantry and crews trained to perform close air support missions, interdiction, armed reconnaissance and support with land forces.
The F-35B will reach full initial operational capacity between July and December of the 2015.
Finally, the US Navy, equipped with F-35Cs, will reach full initial operational capability as soon as the first squadron of 10 aircraft is formed, with Navy personnel and pilots trained and able to carry out the assigned missions. The F-35C will reach initial full operational capability between August 2018 and February 2019.
Despite the problems, the dates for full operational capability remain confirmed by the Pentagon.
Franco Iacch
(photo: DoD USA)
