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2017-11-28 Helicopter aerial refueling during the latest Weapons and Tactics Training Course at USMC Air Station Yuma.
A pair of U.S. Army MH-60M Blackhawks and a U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion assigned to Marine Corps Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) conduct an aerial refueling exercise in support of Weapons and Tactics Instructor course (WTI) 1-18 in Yuma, Ariz., Oct. 6, 2017.
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WTI is a seven-week training event hosted by MAWTS-1 cadre which emphasizes operational integration of the six functions of Marine Corps Aviation in support of a Marine Air Ground Task Force.
MAWTS-1 provides standardized advanced tactical training and certification of unit instructor qualifications to support Marine Aviation Training and Readiness and assists in developing and employing aviation weapons and tactics.
2017-11-28 A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) prepare to land after a Tactical Intercept/Air Combat Maneuvering exercise during Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course (WTI) near Yuma, Ariz., Oct. 4, 2017.
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WTI is a seven-week training event hosted by MAWTS-1 cadre, which emphasizes operational integration of the six functions of Marine Air Ground Task Force. MAWTS-1 provides standardized advanced tactical training and certification of unit instructor qualifications to support Marine Aviation Training and Readiness and assists in developing and employing aviation weapons and tactics.
11/21/17: U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 lands at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 15, 2017.
The remaining aircraft represent the last installment of F-35B Lightning IIs assigned to VMFA-121.
The F-35B Lightning II is a fifth-generation fighter, which is the world’s first operational supersonic short takeoff and vertical landing aircraft.
The F-35B brings strategic agility, operational flexibility and tactical supremacy to III MEF with a mission radius greater than that of the F/A-18 Hornet and AV-8B Harrier II in support of the U.S. – Japan alliance.
Regardless the virtues of the platform, Textron Defense Aviation LLC’s approach to build an aircraft tailored to military operations where no stated requirement exists is rare and risky.
However, it is not risk taken in a vacuum, but rather an example of entrepreneurship that was inspired by the thought leadership of the USAF and military aviators.
Aside the absence of an official requirement, reviews of articles penned and speeches made by leaders of the USAF reveal the basis for design of the Scorpion and the Textron model.
USAF leadership defines an Air Force that; utilizes Fusion Warfare; the Combat Cloud; Open Architecture; Non-proprietary system contracts; the Information Battlespace; addresses the pilot shortage; operates much more cost effectively with a high/low platform mix that generates airframe and fuel savings (see Logistical Fratricide); and empowers Decision Superiority.
The Scorpion addresses each of these operational concepts/issues and brings additional capabilities to the deploying Air Force (the USAF or any number of its allies).
As such, the platform not only serves an immediate need, it contributes to shaping an approach for future weapons systems development.
Absent the design philosophy many find the Scorpion an enigma.
Though it has capability overlap, the Scorpion is not a traditional Fighter, Attack, Reconnaissance, Observation, or Trainer, nor is it designed to replace any existing platform. To understand it, one must look to the Scorpion as a ISR/Strike platform developed in the context of the smartphone business model.
The hardware platform – the Scorpion, could be likened to the 256 GB iPhone X (or equivalent Pixel 2/Samsung Note 8 if you prefer).
The aircraft features a truly open mission architecture, with extraordinary internal/external payload capability. An Interface Control Document [ICD] is made available to payload suppliers who program their payloads to interface with the Scorpion mission system.
The result is a very efficient hardware platform with a very flexible approach to the applications/payloads which might be carried onboard the platform.
Textron focuses on providing the very low operating cost, flexible, and modular “flying platform” to readily host a variety of payloads.
I recently flew in one of the three production Scorpions, “P2” fresh off the USAF OA-X Experiment. Textron Aviation Defense Flight Test and Demonstration Pilot Matt “Tajma” Hall (current Air National Guard C-130 Aircraft Commander; experienced pilot in the F-15E, and T-6) provided flight briefing, and Chief Test Pilot Dan “Shaka” Hinson (Ret. USN F/A-18 Pilot, former Commanding Officer of the U.S. Naval Strike Fighter Weapons School, and Graduate of U.S. Naval Test Pilot School) piloted the aircraft.
One cannot help but note the tremendous quality and experience in the team that Textron has assembled to not only fly and prove the aircraft, but to provide the intellectual capital behind design and capability.
Departing on an IFR flight plan in low overcast from the Manassas Regional Airport, Virginia, we quickly climbed to 5,000 ft and headed southwest where the skies were clearing.
The rapid departure and climb made it clear we were under jet power.
Within minutes we were in suitable VFR conditions over Charlottesville, Virginia and ATC provided a block of airspace for maneuvering.
Over the next 60 minutes, Hinson demonstrated the flight characteristics, sensors and weapons systems.
Under his watchful eye, Hinson had me take control of the aircraft executing turns, pulling Gs, evaluating high speed handling, speed brake deployment, an aileron roll, multiple stalls and stall recoveries. The Scorpion is an incredibly stable and “pilot friendly” aircraft.
Engines at idle, flaps up, stick back, and nose high – and the aircraft would not stall.
When parameters were established to create a stall, recovery was straightforward. The aircraft is slippery and a slight drop in the nose leads to a “with this kind of nose attitude the aircraft really accelerates a lot…” from Hinson. The man is a real professional, a gentleman’s way of saying, “pull the nose up.” I did.
The wing provides a tremendous glide ratio, ideal for the aircraft’s purpose – ISR in a permissive environment. On station at about 12,000 ft the total fuel burn was only 500 – 600 lbs per engine, per hour. This enables tremendous time on station with a variety of weapons at the ready to neutralize a target of opportunity.
For comparison sake, the fuel burn per hour on station is about 10 – 12% of the F-15E Strike Eagle and less than 20% of an F-16 in the same role. While no replacement for these fighter aircraft, this mission utilization is precisely how scores of hours have been accumulated by the F-15E, F-16, A-10, and F/A-18s over the past 30 years.
The Scorpion delivers exceptional economy while enabling operations from austere environments with very capable ISR payloads.
A veritable set of airborne eyes and ears, the Scorpion supports payloads that facilitate both kinetic and non-kinetic effects across all operational domains.
With significant internal space for payloads, the Scorpion offers an excess of electrical power to support anticipated and unforeseen demands.
A nose bay is available for configuration with electro-optical/infrared (EO-IR) sensors such as the L3 Wescam MX series, or an active electronically scanned array radar (AESA).
Three large internal payload bays can be configured for use with sensors/payloads to support Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Hyperspectral Analysis, Electronic Warfare or other.
Additional payloads such as a 4G LTE Hotspot could be very helpful in a humanitarian crisis.
Like a smartphone, the Scorpion’s capabilities are limited only by the ingenuity of providers to fill the space and power available.
Permissive environments that utilize significant ISR assets such as the RC-135 Rivet Joint [SIGINT], E-8 JSTARS [SAR] and others may find more than adequate capability in a rightly configured Scorpion.
Such downsizing of ISR packages would increase savings exponentially and free the most capable USAF assets for demanding mission sets.
Orbiting on station I found operating the sensor package while flying the aircraft via the Hands-on Throttle and Stick [HOTAS] intuitive and straightforward. Up front, Hinson utilized the Helmet Mounted Cueing System (HMCS) to demonstrate operational capabilities.
Specific sensor packages overlay data from multiple payloads and create a single situational picture captured by time and geolocation.
The data could be processed by a powerful computer package onboard, or streamed by secure network to other assets in space, the air or ground.
As Textron Aviation Defense Senior Advisor Stephen Burke indicated, “We can pull out of the noise a target that is very difficult to see. A low contrast, short dwell target in a chaotic urban environment.”
The kind of environment that the USAF has been operating in for years – with no end in sight.
The massive increase in data generated by ISR platforms has created very real manpower challenges for Processing, Exploitation and Dissemination (PED).
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An onboard, algorithm-driven computer system would provide a tremendous leap in PED capability.
That kind of computer driven analysis of data is a capability USAF thought leaders have indicated is imperative.
The open architecture the Scorpion features for payloads is entirely separated from the aircrafts flight controls.
Each system/sensor simply runs as a unique application within the main mission systems computer.
This “non-proprietary” approach opens scores of possibilities for the user and their related contract negotiations.
While speaking at the OA-X experiment at Holloman AFB, Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson specified this approach (open architecture/non-proprietary) as a requirement to do business with the USAF moving forward.
When Scorpion payload providers update their sensors with additional capabilities scores of hours of regression testing can be avoided – reference the ICD, plug, play and deploy. Rather than take years to upgrade sensors, it can be achieved in weeks.
The excellent flight characteristics I experienced are complemented by tremendous reliability and ease of operations.
Whether in weapons testing, flight testing or international travel – the Scorpion has demonstrated exceptional readiness rates.
Most recently flying from Wichita, Kansas to the Dubai Air Show, “P2” visited nine countries in six days with 100 percent mission readiness. 100 percent readiness sounds fictitious.
However, it is not all that surprising given the aircraft utilizes proven and widely deployed commercial systems.
While visiting Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabian Air Force pilots quickly qualified in the Scorpion and scored multiple direct hits with inert GBU-12s.
At the Dubai Air Show, the Textron team continued flight operations with multiple demonstrations showcasing Scorpion’s capabilities to an array of international prospective customers.
Unlike the USAF during the O-AX experiment, or the Saudi Arabian Air Force pilots, my flight demonstration carried no ordnance.
However, a target below was designated and Hinson demonstrated an attack profile with a precision guided munition.
The Scorpion features a proven Stores Management System [SMS] that will continue to grow as more ordnance is qualified for the aircraft.
Returning to the airfield, I had the time to appreciate the exceptional view, and the potential value the aircraft could bring to the growing USAF pilot shortage.
During the OA-X experiment, it was noted by USAF leadership that procurement of additional low-cost airframes would be required to surge pilot training/skills development to address the pilot shortage.
The Scorpion is a compelling fit for USAF pilots — and for USN pilots who graduate out of flight school.
Their first assignment in a Scorpion would expose them to a low cost but very capable platform that brings forward the future of the DoD operations.
Scorpion pilots will be immersed in the combat cloud, secure communications, fusion warfare, sensor operation and management.
I can think of no better platform for pilots to learn relevant systems and build hours while preparing for the power of the DoD’s upgraded Gen 4 and Gen 5 aircraft and the high intensity fight.
The Second Line of Defense expresses gratitude to the team at Textron Aviation Defense, specifically to the patient and gracious Chief Test Pilot Dan “Shaka” Hinson and Pilot Matt “Tajma” Hall. An exceptional team of professionals across the board.
The F-35 undergoes final assembly and checkout at three plants around the world – in Italy, in Japan and in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Italian and Japanese lines are low rate production lines whereas the Fort Worth line is the high rate production facility.
The Fort Worth line is truly a unique manufacturing facility, which highlights why the aircraft can be built in high volume and why innovation can continue in the future as the line evolves.
The line is based on a digital thread manufacturing model and as such can embrace evolving capabilities in the domains of automation as well as the various dynamics of change within the broader digital domain, whether commercial or military.
The current plan is to fill out the current manufacturing facility in Fort Worth by 2021 when full rate production is achieved at about 150 aircraft for the year.
I last visited the FAL in 2015 and a lot has changed with the ramp up in the past two years.
During my visit on September 25, 2017, I had a chance to tour the factory with Don Kinard, an F-35 manufacturing expert.
He has been my guide on previous factory visits.
I had a chance to interview Kinard after the visit.
And in that interview, he highlighted the ramp up process.
Question: What is the production rate this year?
Don Kinard: “There are more than 250 production aircraft in the field currently; there are 160 in assembly production across the globe, and the production rate at the Fort Worth facility this year is roughly five a month.
“The plan is 66 aircraft this year; more than 90 aircraft next year; and over 130 in 2019.
“And over the next 10 years about 50% of those planes are being produced for the partners.
Question: During the ramp up you are adding new staff.
What is planned during that period?
Don Kinard: “We have about 1,500 mechanics right now.
“We will roughly double that over the next three years.
“The mechanics are the touch labor personnel and we will increase the support labor by a few hundred people as well.
“During your tour of the training facility, you saw how we are augmenting training.
“The key in adding workers is to bring them up to speed prior to entering the assembly line to reduce downtime impact of integrating new workers onto the line.
“The mechanics are the main hire, and they’ll be going through three to six weeks’ worth of training on realistic components prior to going to the floor to do the jobs for which they are being trained for.
“Finding those mechanics has been something we’ve been working on now for years.
“We’ve had several hiring events all over the country.
“And we’re even starting to get people who have worked F-35 in the field.
“They’re now becoming available.
“They’re retiring from the military or leaving the service, and we’re now able to get people who actually worked F-35’s out in the bases as well as mechanics new to the program”.
Question: During the training facility tour, you highlighted ways the mechanics are being trained realistically prior to going to the final assembly line. How would you describe that process?
Don Kinard: “We are using a number of assembly simulators to provide hands on training necessary to ensure that the mechanics are receiving realistic experience prior to joining the assembly line team.
“We are working to make the transition from training to the real plane as seamless as possible.
“First of all, we hire trained aerospace mechanics.
“Secondly, we train them to be F-35 mechanics on realistic components, and then they go to the floor and get teamed up with people that have been on the floor a while, and that is the on-the-job, or OJT, phase of the hiring and training process.
“What we’ve seen so far with some of the classes that are complete is a tremendous improvement in quality on the mechanics first forays onto the floor.”
Question: In addition to adding mechanics and support labor, you are ramping up automation throughout the assembly line as well. What has been that impact?
Don Kinard: “We have had a touch labor reduction of 75% over the last five years on the airplane.
“There are a couple of advantages we have with regard to modernization of the final assembly line.
“First, we are building a significant number of F-35s looking out into the future, so we’ve been able to invest, as a company, in technology to do more automation, something we didn’t have the opportunity to do in past programs.
“Second, the technology behind the digital thread has exploded in the past five years, meaning that, we started out with 3D solid models years and years ago and we planned for a certain amount of automation. Since program inception automation has gotten a lot better and less expensive.
“The ability to put the digital thread in the hands of the mechanics is something that’s evolved over the last five or six years, and now we are able to actually take 3D scans to compare the as-built aircraft directly to the as-designed aircraft.
“This capability has only been around for three or four years.
“There has been an explosion of digital thread technologies– augmented reality, laser projection, optical projection, the scanning white lights, scanning lasers–that we can leverage and work into the assembly line.
“We’re able to do that because we have 2,500+ more aircraft to go.
“So there’s a big economic incentive for us and our customers to make those investments through capital investments and the Blueprint for Affordability Program.
“And, by the way, digital technologies continue to evolve rapidly, and because we have a digital thread line and a Manufacturing Technology organization we can incorporate those technologies as appropriate.
“We’ve only started with augmented reality, but I almost guarantee you that in the next five years that’ll change everything. All of the Internet of Things, IToT, Industry 4.0, will be incorporated as appropriate. We will have the ability to automate a lot of reporting, automate a lot of data gathering, automate a lot of things today we do manually.
“Because of our digital thread approach we can incorporate innovations from the commercial space, which creates opportunities to improve quality and reduce costs.
“Our digital thread manufacturing process provides us with the opportunity to do so on an open-ended basis.
“This aspect of innovation built into the F-35 program is not widely appreciated.
“We’re able to harness the power of the major digital companies out there developing technologies in the commercial space, and spending enormous amounts of money, and all of a sudden those innovations are flowing our way.
“Having the three variants on the same assembly line has allowed the F-35Cs and Bs to benefit enormously from the evolutions of the largest production run of the three, the F-35A.
“The avionics and the software are the same across all three aircraft, which is a huge learning, and maintenance advantage.”
Question: Because of the digital thread approach, the changes on the manufacturing line are informed by and can inform the stand up of the global sustainment effort as well.
How would you describe this process?
Don Kinard: “One needs to look at sustainment much like you look at manufacturing learning.
“We’ve done a lot of learning over the past five years.
“We know how to build the aircraft now.
“That mystery is gone.
“Now, we’re learning how to sustain that aircraft, and that data will be captured by systems like ALIS (advanced logistics information system).
“We can then shape a global database as flight data accumulated so that everybody gets better.
“Everybody who has an F-35 gets better.
“With more than 250 planes out in the field, we are getting data from these aircraft and incorporating lessons learned into changes on the FAL itself.
“This is the advantage of having a digital data stream to work with from design to manufacturing to sustainment and back again.
“This allows for a digital learning curve, which enables both quality and performance to be enhanced.
“If customers take full advantage of the process, sustainment will be enhanced and sortie generation rates ramped up for the global F-35 fleet.
The F-35 manufacturing dynamic is built on a digital thread which allows suppliers and maintainers to be part of an ongoing process of evolution of the aircraft and its sustainment. Credit Graphic: Second Line of Defense
“In addition, many of the manufacturing technologies developed for Production have applications with our Sustainment business, additive manufacturing of tools and augmented reality delivery of maintenance instructions being a couple of good examples.”
During the factory tour, it was clear that ramp up was ongoing and that a number of changes and upgrades had occurred since my last visit in 2015.
First, throughout the factory there are a large number of overhead RFID panels which monitor the parts and tools throughout the factory so we can track by the use of digital devices where parts are and how they are being consumed, and also using our integrated business systems what the current manufacturing state status of each aircraft is at every production station.
According to Kinard: “The focus is upon providing data to those who use it on the floor, as well as to provide a data dashboard overview for management on aircraft status and performance.
“Much of this capability is currently available on our phones by use of an app called Plane-Site developed by our Production Control an IT departments and more capability is being added every year.”
Kinard emphasized during the tour that the 4th industrial revolution which revolves around leveraging data to get enhanced understanding of production processes to improve continuously the production process was a core focus of the overall data management effort.
During the tour we saw a new automated wing-drilling machine, which provides a significant improvement in how it operates, including waste material reduction, automated hole measurement, enhanced accuracy and improved speed.
According to Kinard: “Lockheed Martin is developing with the US Government a number of technologies to enhance performance and lower cost for the supply chain as well. One example in the factory was a new titanium cryogenic machining system.
“This cryogenic system was being tested to determine its effectiveness in cutting titanium and faster while increasing tool life. The Cryogenic machine tool uses a liquid nitrogen tank, which feeds liquid nitrogen to the cutter tip
“Given that 25-30% of the plane uses titanium, any reductions in tooling costs are significant for suppliers who are the targets of this machining technology.
“More generally, given the significant investments in machine tools to build a modern fighter aircraft, improvement in efficiency is a major plus.
“Enhanced use of robots could be seen throughout the factory.
“One example was Thor, a robot used in the finishing shop to inject coatings onto the airplane in the finishes area.
“The robot along with automated 3D scanning technologies is designed to manage the thickness of the coatings, which is part of building a low observable aircraft.
“This development leads to reduction of time and improvement in accuracy as well.
“One result of the use of automation and associated accuracy improvements can be seen in the significantly low defect rate. 80+% of F-35s from the FAL go to the Radar Cross Section (RCS) facilities with zero defects.
“Scanning technologies are clearly going to be leveraged for improvements in accuracy and speed as well.
“The basic approach is to use scanning technologies, which scan the plane as-built and then directly to the plane compare it to as-designed in the CATIA models. This process can identify any final adjustments needed. The goal is to use this more broadly to reduce the need for manual labor to perform these tasks.
“One example in testing is using scanning technology to 3D scan the bomb weapons bay as opposed to a manual fit check of simulated weapons.
“This is a work in progress but clearly one which can provide for further manufacturing improvements.”
“The broader point is simply because the FAL is built on a digital thread line it is possible to have open ended innovations and production learning, which can also be applied to the Sustainment process going forward, as well as learning from the performance of operational aircraft integrated with production process itself.”
For an overview on digital thread manufacturing, see the following:
2017-11-11 The first F-35s have arrived in Norway as the Norwegian Air Force stands up its initial training capability.
According to an article published November 10, 2017 on the Norwegian Ministry of Defence, the ceremony welcoming the new addition to the Norwegian Defence Force was highlighted.
Rain, sun, wind and prominent guests were all present when Norway’s first three F-35s were formally welcomed home on Friday 10 November.
Windy and rainy Norwegian autumn weather did not trouble the official welcoming ceremony in Hangar E at Ørland Air Station this Friday afternoon.
Just before the ceremony started, two of the Norwegian F-35 fighter aircraft pierced the sky above Ørland to greet the many guests present.
The three aircraft arrived last week, being the first F-35s in Norway.
The official ceremony was held this Friday – coinciding with the Norwegian Air Force’s 73rd anniversary.
Among many prominent guests were Norway’s King Harald, Norwegian Prime Minister Mrs Erna Solberg and Secretary General of NATO, Mr Jens Stoltenberg.
The F-35s will provide a substantial capability for securing Norway and Norwegian territories in the High North. Norway is NATO’s northern border, and the F-35s will therefore be important for the Alliance.
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“This is an important day for Ørland, for Norway and for NATO. Ørland Air Station will be the centre in the modernised Norwegian Air Force, and Norway will have the most modern fighters” Mr Stoltenberg said, adding:
“The Alliance is renewing and changing, and the Norwegian F-35s are important in this work. The aircraft have a unique military power and a one-of-a-kind survivability. They will contribute in making the world’s most powerful alliance even more powerful”.
The ceremony was also broadcast live on Norwegian television, allowing everyone to follow the event. MORE WORK AHEAD
Chief of the Air Force, Major General Tonje Skinnarland, pointed out that there is still a lot of work to be done in the years ahead. Majord General Skinnarland will be in charge of incorporating the aircraft into the Norwegian Armed Forces organisation and prepare the aircraft for Norwegian conditions. The Norwegian F-35 will reach initial operating capability in 2019.
“This marks the start of reaching the next milestone: Making the aircraft combat ready. This work stretches far beyond the Air Force. F-35 facilitates joint operations, and the Armed Forces will work together to reach that potential, the Air Force chief said.
NORWAY’S SECURITY
Prime Minster Erna Solberg stressed the importance of receiving the first F-35s in Norway.
“The aircraft provide the Armed Forces with capabilities far beyond those of today. F-35 will strengthen not only the Armed Forces, but also Norway’s security”, the Prime Minister said.
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The highlight of the ceremony happened midway, when a dark carpet fell, marking the official unveiling of the first F-35s on Norwegian soil.
Norway’s main F-35 base, Ørland Air Station, will play an important role in the the years coming. In 2019, the new aircraft will gradually be taking over for today’s F-16. The Norwegian government has decided to buy up to 52 new F-35A, and the whole F-35 fleet will be fully operating in 2025.
Editor’s Note: In the first slideshow above, the photos are credited to Torbjørn Kjosvold, Forsvaret.
Pictured in succession are the following: Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, Norwegian Minister of Defence, Frank Bakke-Jensen, Chief of the Royal Norwegian Air Force, Major General Tonje Skinnarland and Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg.
In the second slideshow, the arrival of the F-35s for the ceremony are highlighted.
Pictured in succession are the following: the arrival of the first two F-35s, the first F-35 take-off in Norway, Pilots “Steel” and “Timber” (right) meet Chief of Defence, Admiral Haakon Bruun-Hanssen, after flying F-35 at the welcoming ceremony 10 November and finally one of Norway’s F-35s was revealed during the ceremony. Photos are credited to Torbjørn Kjosvold, Norwegian Armed Forces.
2017-11-10 (Updated with Comments on Arrival Ceremony)
According to a story on the Ministry of Defence Norwegian website published on November 10, 2017, the comments by the Prime Minister were highlighted regarding the arrival of the F-35 in Norway.
The F-35 remains crucial to the continued modernization of our Armed Forces and our ability to preserve Norwegian and allied security and interests. The Government marked the procurement with a ceremony at Ørland Air Base November 10th. – Today, we are marking an important milestone in the development of Norway’s defence capabilities: The arrival in Norway of the first F-35 Lightning II jets, says Prime Minister Erna Solberg.
We mark the start of a new era for the Norwegian Armed Forces. The new combat aircraft will be a key factor in deterring any attack on Norway, as well as ensuring that we meet our obligations to the NATO alliance. The F-35 remains crucial to the continued modernization of our Armed Forces and our ability to preserve Norwegian and allied security and interests, says Minister of Defence Frank Bakke-Jensen.
The F-35 is a 5th generation multi-role combat aircraft. It is a key procurement that ensures stronger and more relevant Norwegian Armed Forces in the future. The F-35 provides the Norwegian Armed Forces with a significantly strengthened strategic capability, in terms of sensors, weapons and survivability. This helps ensure that Norway is able to present any future opponent with a credible threshold against military aggression or coercion.
We live in a more and more uncertain world. NATO is undertaking the biggest strengthening of our collective defences in decades. The Norwegian F-35 aircraft are an important contribution to this modernization and make the world’s strongest Alliance even stronger, says NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
The F-35 is a lot more than simply an F-16 replacement. It adds a wide range of capabilities to our Armed Forces that Norway have never had before. The F-35 is not just a new fighter. It is a completely new weapons system.
Norway’s participation in this programme enhances our ability to cooperate with other NATO countries, and at the same time gives us additional capabilities that we could never have acquired on our own. This illustrates the value of the Alliance we are a part of. It also shows that we are shouldering our share of the responsibility for ensuring that NATO has modern and effective capabilities, says Prime Minister Erna Solberg.
As Major General Tonje Skinnarland. the Norwegian Chief of Staff, put it in an interview earlier this year:
“It is not just about adding new platforms; it is about shaping joint capabilities for the defense of Norway in a high intensity operational setting.
“To achieve integrated defense and joint operations will not be easy and certainly will not happen simply by adding new platforms.
“There are a lot of different tasks to be done ranging from getting all the spare parts, logistics, the training, and, of course, shaping the national defense plan.
“As we get all these new systems, which will make us even more capable of handling the current situation and current threats together with other allies and partners, there is another challenge.”
Norway first three F-35 fighter jets just after landing at Ørland Air Station on November 3rd. Photo: Forsvaret
The Norwegians like the Danes are introducing the F-35, not as an end in itself air combat asset, but as part of an overall transformation process.
As the chief of the Danish Air Force put it in an interview earlier this month:
“We need to focus on the management of big data generated by the F-35 and other assets that will come into the force.
“How do we do the right kind of command and control within a rich information battlespace?
“We need to build self-learning systems as well.
“The F-35 is a revolutionary man-machine system and sets in motion not only the challenge of new approaches to working information and C2, but new approaches to combat learning.
“How do we get there?
“That is what generating a fifth generation combat force is all about.”
The three first of the multi-role aircraft landed at Ørland Air Force Station in central Norway on November 3nd after more than 10 hours in the air from the United States.
A week later, on the day of the Royal Norway Air Force’s 73rd anniversary, the arrival will officially be celebrated.
“The future has landed,” reads the headline for the news article posted at Norway’s Ministry of Defense a few minutes after landing Friday afternoon.
Others call it a “Game changer.”
F-35 will replace Norway’s current fleet of F-16 fighter jets.
With the new planes, the Armed Forces significantly strengthens its strategic capability, not only with more aircrafts than today’s fleet, but firstly because the F-35 has better weapons, sensors and survivability.
“This helps ensure that Norway is able to present any future opponent with a credible threshold against military aggression or coercion,”the Defense Ministry says in a statement.
With the arrival of F-35, the military moves the main base from Bodø north of the Arctic Circle to Ørland Air Force Station northwest of Trondheim, more than 400 kilometers south of the Arctic Circle.
In the north, Evenes airport near Narvik will serve as a forward operating base to offer Quick Reaction Alerts for Norway’s Arctic airspace.
Since 2007, Norwegian fighter jets have frequently been scrambled by NATO to identify Russian strategic bombers flying out in international airspace via the Barents Sea and further south outside the coast of northern Norway.
Norway like Denmark is in the process of raising its defense spending to deal with its challenging neighborhood.
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According to a Norwegian MoD press release dated October 12, 2017:
The Norwegian government continues to give priority to the defence sector in its annual budget proposal through a NOK 3 billion increase in 2018. It shows the government’s commitment to increase defence spending every year to meet the ambitions set out in the Long Term Plan “Capable and sustainable” for the defence sector for the years 2017-2020. In a more complex and dangerous world, Norway continues to invest in its Armed Forces.
In developing the Armed Forces capabilities, the government continues to invest in defence in order to achieve the ambitious goals set out in the Long Term Plan for the period 2017–2020. In 2017 we increased the budget with NOK 1,48 billion in order to close identified gaps in maintenance, spare parts and stockpiling.
The 2018 budget allows us to continue closing these gaps while simultaneously implementing the second phase of the plan; improved readiness levels, increased manning in our combat units and increased training and exercise levels, stated the minister of defence Ine Eriksen Søreide.
Of the NOK 3 billion increase, over NOK 2 billion are allotted to the measures set forth in the Long Term Plan. In addition, funding for acquisition of three new Coast Guard vessels, participation in international operations and hosting NATOs High Visibility Exercise Trident Juncture in 2018, are provided funding in the budget proposal.
The Long Term Plan has a three-phased approach with subsequent building blocks to ensure a sustainable balance between resources, capabilities and ambitions. The first phase began in 2017 with increased allocations to maintenance, spare parts and stockpiling.
The second phase with reduced readiness levels, increased manning in Norwegian combat units and increased training and exercise levels, provides for a better trained, properly manned and equipped force structure, with and increased ability to react timely. The third phase, set to begin in 2019, continues a high level of investment and provides for the acquisition in new strategic capabilities to maintain situational awareness and control in the high north.
The NOK 3 billion increase in 2018 provides for:
Increased manning of the frigates and increased sailing
Acquisition of Ground Based Air Defence capabilites for the Army
Establishment of a new ranger company in Finnmark
A smooth transition from F-16 to F-35 combat aircraft.
The continued building at Ørland air station for the new F-35 fighter jets
The preparation of Evenes air station, which will house new P-8 maritime patrol aircraft and be a forward operation base for the F-35 combat aircraft
A high level of activity for the Norwegian Navy and Coast Guard
Reception and implementation of the new supply ship HNoMS Maud
The budget proposal strengthens our armed forces. Together with our Allies we have pledged to increase defense spending in order to protect our mutual values, security and interests at home and abroad. Our aim is to ensure that the armed forces have the training, equipment and support necessary for their work. This budget provides for exactly that, states the minister of defence.
Major General Morten Klever, the program director of the Norwegian F-35 program, commented recently on his visit to the Final Assembly Line of the F-35 in Fort Worth.
I have, together with a team from the Armed Forces and Defense, been in Forth Worth in the US to watch the planes coming to Norway in November.
I can report that all three aircraft are ready to fly home soon. The planes have rolled out of the factory, and are now in the final phase as they are piloted and tested thoroughly, so we are sure that everything will work before flying to Norway.
So far everything is on route and we are looking forward to seeing the planes landing on Ørland.
We also visited Fort Worth’s production line, where you can follow the whole process of assembling the planes. It’s an impressive piece of work, and soon it’s the capacity of this factory to roll out an airplane every other day from the 1.8-kilometer-long factory hall.
Here we also saw that all the 6 Norwegian aircraft that will be delivered to Ørland next year are in different places in production. It shows that we are on track with the battlefield acquisition.
Now, just waiting to get our first planes home so the Armed Forces can start training here at home.
Major General Klever also explained the upgrade process for the F-35 and how it affects the Norwegian F-35 force.
Our seven combat aircraft have 3i software and can be upgraded to 3F software. The upgrade takes a few hours on each flight.
The F-35 aircraft are built in annual production series, where every series up to the one now being built at full capacity is slightly different. That is, all the planes built today, which are production series 9, must be upgraded to reach the level characterized as combatable status.
Our three first flight arriving in Ørland in November comes with so-called 3F software. These three Norwegian aircraft are among the first to come from the production line with this new software.
An Easy Upgrade
The seven aircraft Norway has already received and used for training and training at the Luke Air Force Base in the United States, are earlier production series (7 and 8) and are supplied with 3i software.
These will be upgraded with new software when this fits with the training plan on the base where they operate on a daily basis, and this is a simple process.
Simply explained, you can say that all production series from 7 upwards can be upgraded to the 3F version by making a simple software upgrade. This takes a few hours on each flight and is comparable to upgrading our own iPhone from iOS 10 to iOS 11.
The aircraft in production series 1 to 6, however, can not do this simple software upgrade as they have “old” hardware that can not run the new version software. That is, their iPhone is too “old” and upgrades must be made on the phone itself before it can receive and use the new software.
It’s not as easy to replace these planes as an iPhone, and it is therefore planned to upgrade the aircraft with both hardware and software rather than buying new aircraft…..
Maintain Combat Power and Operational Ability
From the Norwegian side, we have planned from the start that all the aircraft we purchase should be upgraded to 3F software without further modifications, and have therefore purchased aircraft from series 7 and upwards.
The Armed Forces need 52 battle-ready combat aircraft to meet the threats of the future, thus fulfilling the Storting’s goal for the entire combat aircraft acquisition. Now it will also be said that 3F will not be the latest version on our aircraft either, as the planes will be upgraded throughout their lifetime, both with new software and hardware to meet the threats that may develop over the next 40 years.
As an example, the latest aircraft we plan to receive in 2024 have both newer hardware and newer software with even better features than those coming to Ørland in November.
Then all Norwegian aircraft will eventually be upgraded accordingly….
It’s about maintaining combat power and operational ability throughout the lifetime of the aircraft – to be relevant.
Editor’s Note: For a recent interview with a senior Norwegian defense official on the evolution of Norwegian defense and security policy, see the following:
The photos in the slideshow highlight the visit of Major General Klever to Fort Worth with the exception of the last one which was shot during a visit of Second Line of Defense to the F-35 FAL on September 25, 2107.
Major General Klever’s comments in Norwegian were translated by Second Line of Defense.
2017-10-29 Norway, like Denmark and the UK, is looking forward to the coming and integrative impact of the F-35 on its national and regional defense capabilities.
As Major General Tonje Skinnarland. the Norwegian Chief of Staff, put it in an interview earlier this year:
“It is not just about adding new platforms; it is about shaping joint capabilities for the defense of Norway in a high intensity operational setting.
“To achieve integrated defense and joint operations will not be easy and certainly will not happen simply by adding new platforms.
“There are a lot of different tasks to be done ranging from getting all the spare parts, logistics, the training, and, of course, shaping the national defense plan.
“As we get all these new systems, which will make us even more capable of handling the current situation and current threats together with other allies and partners, there is another challenge.”
The Norwegians like the Danes are introducing the F-35, not as an end in itself air combat asset, but as part of an overall transformation process.
As the chief of the Danish Air Force put it in an interview earlier this month:
“We need to focus on the management of big data generated by the F-35 and other assets that will come into the force.
“How do we do the right kind of command and control within a rich information battlespace?
“We need to build self-learning systems as well.
“The F-35 is a revolutionary man-machine system and sets in motion not only the challenge of new approaches to working information and C2, but new approaches to combat learning.
“How do we get there?
“That is what generating a fifth generation combat force is all about.”
Norway like Denmark is in the process of raising its defense spending to deal with its challenging neighborhood.
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According to a Norwegian MoD press release dated October 12, 2017:
The Norwegian government continues to give priority to the defence sector in its annual budget proposal through a NOK 3 billion increase in 2018. It shows the government’s commitment to increase defence spending every year to meet the ambitions set out in the Long Term Plan “Capable and sustainable” for the defence sector for the years 2017-2020. In a more complex and dangerous world, Norway continues to invest in its Armed Forces.
In developing the Armed Forces capabilities, the government continues to invest in defence in order to achieve the ambitious goals set out in the Long Term Plan for the period 2017–2020. In 2017 we increased the budget with NOK 1,48 billion in order to close identified gaps in maintenance, spare parts and stockpiling.
The 2018 budget allows us to continue closing these gaps while simultaneously implementing the second phase of the plan; improved readiness levels, increased manning in our combat units and increased training and exercise levels, stated the minister of defence Ine Eriksen Søreide.
Of the NOK 3 billion increase, over NOK 2 billion are allotted to the measures set forth in the Long Term Plan. In addition, funding for acquisition of three new Coast Guard vessels, participation in international operations and hosting NATOs High Visibility Exercise Trident Juncture in 2018, are provided funding in the budget proposal.
The Long Term Plan has a three-phased approach with subsequent building blocks to ensure a sustainable balance between resources, capabilities and ambitions. The first phase began in 2017 with increased allocations to maintenance, spare parts and stockpiling.
The second phase with reduced readiness levels, increased manning in Norwegian combat units and increased training and exercise levels, provides for a better trained, properly manned and equipped force structure, with and increased ability to react timely. The third phase, set to begin in 2019, continues a high level of investment and provides for the acquisition in new strategic capabilities to maintain situational awareness and control in the high north.
The NOK 3 billion increase in 2018 provides for:
Increased manning of the frigates and increased sailing
Acquisition of Ground Based Air Defence capabilites for the Army
Establishment of a new ranger company in Finnmark
A smooth transition from F-16 to F-35 combat aircraft.
The continued building at Ørland air station for the new F-35 fighter jets
The preparation of Evenes air station, which will house new P-8 maritime patrol aircraft and be a forward operation base for the F-35 combat aircraft
A high level of activity for the Norwegian Navy and Coast Guard
Reception and implementation of the new supply ship HNoMS Maud
The budget proposal strengthens our armed forces. Together with our Allies we have pledged to increase defense spending in order to protect our mutual values, security and interests at home and abroad. Our aim is to ensure that the armed forces have the training, equipment and support necessary for their work. This budget provides for exactly that, states the minister of defence.
Major General Morten Klever, the program director of the Norwegian F-35 program, commented recently on his visit to the Final Assembly Line of the F-35 in Fort Worth.
I have, together with a team from the Armed Forces and Defense, been in Forth Worth in the US to watch the planes coming to Norway in November.
I can report that all three aircraft are ready to fly home soon. The planes have rolled out of the factory, and are now in the final phase as they are piloted and tested thoroughly, so we are sure that everything will work before flying to Norway.
So far everything is on route and we are looking forward to seeing the planes landing on Ørland.
We also visited Fort Worth’s production line, where you can follow the whole process of assembling the planes. It’s an impressive piece of work, and soon it’s the capacity of this factory to roll out an airplane every other day from the 1.8-kilometer-long factory hall.
Here we also saw that all the 6 Norwegian aircraft that will be delivered to Ørland next year are in different places in production. It shows that we are on track with the battlefield acquisition.
Now, just waiting to get our first planes home so the Armed Forces can start training here at home.
Major General Klever also explained the upgrade process for the F-35 and how it affects the Norwegian F-35 force.
Our seven combat aircraft have 3i software and can be upgraded to 3F software. The upgrade takes a few hours on each flight.
The F-35 aircraft are built in annual production series, where every series up to the one now being built at full capacity is slightly different. That is, all the planes built today, which are production series 9, must be upgraded to reach the level characterized as combatable status.
Our three first flight arriving in Ørland in November comes with so-called 3F software. These three Norwegian aircraft are among the first to come from the production line with this new software.
An Easy Upgrade
The seven aircraft Norway has already received and used for training and training at the Luke Air Force Base in the United States, are earlier production series (7 and 8) and are supplied with 3i software.
These will be upgraded with new software when this fits with the training plan on the base where they operate on a daily basis, and this is a simple process.
Simply explained, you can say that all production series from 7 upwards can be upgraded to the 3F version by making a simple software upgrade. This takes a few hours on each flight and is comparable to upgrading our own iPhone from iOS 10 to iOS 11.
The aircraft in production series 1 to 6, however, can not do this simple software upgrade as they have “old” hardware that can not run the new version software. That is, their iPhone is too “old” and upgrades must be made on the phone itself before it can receive and use the new software.
It’s not as easy to replace these planes as an iPhone, and it is therefore planned to upgrade the aircraft with both hardware and software rather than buying new aircraft…..
Maintain Combat Power and Operational Ability
From the Norwegian side, we have planned from the start that all the aircraft we purchase should be upgraded to 3F software without further modifications, and have therefore purchased aircraft from series 7 and upwards.
The Armed Forces need 52 battle-ready combat aircraft to meet the threats of the future, thus fulfilling the Storting’s goal for the entire combat aircraft acquisition. Now it will also be said that 3F will not be the latest version on our aircraft either, as the planes will be upgraded throughout their lifetime, both with new software and hardware to meet the threats that may develop over the next 40 years.
As an example, the latest aircraft we plan to receive in 2024 have both newer hardware and newer software with even better features than those coming to Ørland in November.
Then all Norwegian aircraft will eventually be upgraded accordingly….
It’s about maintaining combat power and operational ability throughout the lifetime of the aircraft – to be relevant.
Editor’s Note: For a recent interview with a senior Norwegian defense official on the evolution of Norwegian defense and security policy, see the following:
The photos in the slideshow highlight the visit of Major General Klever to Fort Worth with the exception of the last one which was shot during a visit of Second Line of Defense to the F-35 FAL on September 25, 2107.
Major General Klever’s comments in Norwegian were translated by Second Line of Defense.
During my visit on September 25, 2017, I had a chance to tour the factory with Don Kinard, an F-35 manufacturing expert.
