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2021-08-01

Switzerland Selects F-35A,Backbone of Allied Airpower

Lockheed Martin recently won the fighter competition to replace Switzerland’s ageing F-5E/F Tiger IIs and F/A-18C/Ds. The contract is for 36 of the company’s F-35As for nearly US$5.5 billion. The deal adds a 15th nation to one of the world’s largest weapons projects – a family of interconnected single-engine jets that will be used by the U.S. and its allies and partners.

The deal comes alongside a US$2.1 billion contract to purchase the Patriot surface-to-air missile system from Raytheon.

Other contenders were Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet, French Dassault’s Rafale and the four-nation Eurofighter built by Germany, and Spain, backed by Airbus, Italy’s Leonardo and Britain’s BAE Systems.

F-35’s fifth-generation capability is defined by the combination of Very Low Observable stealth, advanced sensors, information fusion and network connectivity – all packaged within in a supersonic, long range, highly manoeuvrable fighter.

With this advanced technology, the F-35 multi-role fighter is capable of successfully executing various missions, including new scenarios not traditionally fulfilled by legacy fighters. Where fourth generation fighters are forced to adapt to this advancing battlespace, the F-35 shifts the power dynamic and is able to define the battlespace that adversaries will need to adapt to. More than a fighter jet, the F-35’s ability to collect, analyse and share data, is a powerful force multiplier that enhances all airborne, surface and ground-based assets in the battlespace.

The F-35 carries weapons internally in stealth configuration, or externally in permissible environments with greater than 18,000 pounds of total ordinance. The Pratt & Whitney F135 engine’s fifth-generation propulsion capabilities provide the F-35 the technological edge to fight and win.

The aircraft reportedly has one of the most advanced sensor suites of any fighter in history, including the Active Electronically Scanned Arrays (AESA) radar that provides long-range intelligence, Distributed Aperture System (DAS) that sends high resolution real-time imagery to the pilot’s helmet from six infrared cameras mounted around the aircraft, Electro Optical Targeting System (EOTS), which combines forward-looking infrared and infrared search and track functionality. Moreover, the Helmet Mounted Display System (HMD) provides pilots with unmatched situational awareness in diverse conditions.

Strengthening Global Security

NATO members in the F-35 programme of record include Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, the UK and U.S. By 2035, more than 500 F-35s will be stationed on the European continent across NATO member bases, including 48 U.S. Air Force F-35s (two squadrons) stationed at Royal Air Force Lakenheath in the UK.

With more than 200 F-35s now delivered to international operators, the impact of the global fleet is substantial – both in size and significance. The growth of the international F-35 fleet serves as a beacon of allied capability and partnership, bringing nations together to collaborate and strengthen global security for generations to come.

The collective fleet of F-35s across NATO countries are able to share information seamlessly amongst one another and with fourth-generation aircraft, naval systems or ground assets, serving as a key node in the Joint All Domain Operations (JADO) battlespace. In addition, the F-35’s ability to enter contested battlespace undetected will ensure that NATO forces can evade modern air defence systems.

With users learning new, transformational, fifth-generation tactics from each other, the F-35 is increasing NATO’s deterrent capability. Several recent multinational exercises have demonstrated the transformative effect of a multi-country fifth-generation fleet for NATO.

In March, Norwegian F-35s demonstrated “cross-platform data-sharing capabilities” with U.S. Air Force B-2 bombers off the coast of Iceland, where Royal Norwegian Air Force F-35As subsequently concluded a three-week NATO Icelandic Air Policing mission.

That same month, the F-35 Joint Programme Office delivered a flight clearance recommendation to the Italian Navy for the safe operation of F-35Bs on the upgraded Italian Navy flagship aircraft carrier ITS Cavour.

The UK’s Carrier Strike Group 21 deployment will offer multiple opportunities to F-35s to demonstrate interoperability between not only the U.S. and UK., but also with nations across the NATO alliance.

In May, during exercise Astral Knight 21 – a joint, multinational U.S. Air Force-led exercise – American and Italian F-35s demonstrated the F-35’s JADO capabilities by integrating with fourth-generation NATO assets and providing situational awareness. During the exercise, U.S. Air Force maintainers conducted hot-pit operations and cross-servicing with Italian F-35s.

F-35s have also begun supporting NATO’s Air Policing mission in both Iceland and Estonia. Italian and Norwegian F-35s have already completed missions providing 24/7 intercept capabilities to safeguard the skies in the High North and preserve the security of Allied air space, with specific operations operating out of Keflavik Air Base, Iceland.

In May, four Italian Air Force F-35As took over NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission – the first time Italian F-35s have deployed to Estonia, and the first-time fifth-generation aircraft have supported NATO’s mission in the Baltic States. Shortly thereafter, Italian Air Force pilots supporting NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission executed the first ever intercept by an F-35 under NATO orders in the Baltic Sea.

Focus on Interoperability

The F-35 is also strengthening NATO partnerships beyond the battlespace. Through joint training and shared production and sustainment of the aircraft, NATO allies work side-by-side every step of the way.

The focus on interoperability begins with F-35 pilot training. In the centralised training programme at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, F-35 pilots develop and hone their skills in partnership with their allies. This allows the F-35 user community to work side-by-side to establish common tactic, techniques, and procedures that are driving common concepts of operations across nations and services.

This partnership can also be seen in the global production and sustainment of the F-35. Components from NATO countries are on every F-35 built for customers around the world. In fact, nearly 26 per cent of all F-35 content by value is provided by European companies alone.

From horizontal tails and the B variant’s Rolls-Royce LiftSystem from the UK., to landing gears parts from the Netherlands to radar components and machined parts from Denmark, NATO partners contribute significantly to the F-35 global supply chain.

Reference Text/Photo:

www.lockheedmartin.coM

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