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F-35 Lightning II F-35 Lightning II ighter squadrons rarely remain at the by Lt Col Steve Gillette, was given its initial Ten F-35B aircraft all upgraded to Group 1 forefront of their armed service without a operational capability (IOC) declaration for the modification standard and configured with Block succession of outstanding achievements fifth-generation jump jet. The Green Knights are 2B software. Three of the key modifications made Fin peace time or war. Marine Fighter assigned to Marine Air Group 13 (MAG-13) based to the squadron’s Low Rate Initial Production Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121) ‘Green Knights’ at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. (LRIP) lot 4 aircraft were the FS496 bulkhead is one such unit. During its 64-year service The IOC criteria were outlined in a letter (structural), auxiliary air inlet door (capability) and career the Green Knights have operated around issued by the then Deputy Commandant of installation of the onboard inert gas generation the world from locations as diverse as Okinawa, Aviation, Lieutenant General Robert Schmidle, in system for protection against lightning (safety). All Japan and Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. On September June 2013. of the key modifications were made to overcome 12, 2012 VMFA-121 became the first squadron Meeting the IOC criteria depended on having restrictions placed on the aircraft. in the US Marine Corps fleet to start transition the following requirements on the squadron at The latest compartmentalised version of ALIS to the F-35B Lightning II. Just 1,037 days later its home station: (Autonomic Logistics Information System) carried the squadron, commanded in pelican cases for deployment and known as V2. Complete skill and mission set training for eight of the squadron’s pilots to US Marine Corps level 2000 (skill based) and 3000 (mission 42 based) training-in-readiness codes. The codes certify a pilot’s ability to conduct the missions required for IOC; armed reconnaissance, active air defence, close-air support, off ensive and defensive counter air. Missions Of the ten aircraft required for the IOC declaration, three were built in LRIP lot 5 (modifi ed by depot workers at Yuma) and seven in LRIP lot 4 (two modifi ed by the Driving Ogden Air Logistics Centre at Hill Air Force Base, Utah and fi ve by the Fleet Support Center East at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina). The fi rst aircraft left Yuma for the depot in the fourth quarter of 2014. When F-35A serial number 10-5015 (c/n AF-27) suffered an engine fire on take-off from Eglin Air Force Base, Florida on June 23, 2014 the entire fleet was grounded until the agencies involved in the investigation had a clear Nails understanding of what took place in the arm of the fan module fractured. This fracture F135-PW-400 engine. occurred on the R3 forward integral arm and The mishap was caused when the was caused by high cycle fatigue following a rub third stage integrally event on the aft plate seal of the integral arm. bladed rotor (R3) The aft plate seal experienced heat damage from forward the rub against a strip of foam material attached integral to the second stage stator. For VMFA-121, the grounding prevented its deployment to the UK to participate in last year’s Royal International Air Tattoo and the Farnborough International Airshow. Naval Air Systems Command, the fl ight clearance authority for the F-35B variant, restricted the Royal Naval School of Flight Deck Operations 43 F-35 Lightning II This shot of F-35B BuNo 168721/‘VK03’ clearly shows the extent of serrated panels on the top side of the fi fth-generation jump jet’s design. Dan Stijovich G envelope and provided quick and long-term I need to make sure this airplane and my schools of the US Marine Corps and US Navy fi xes to the problem. The quick fi x involved fl ying squadron is trained to do just that. In addition, for respectively. Air Force OT&E and Marine Corps each aircraft in a specifi c fl ight profi le to burn the Marine Corps there are a host of other things OT&E refer to the 31st Test and Evaluation off a very thin layer inside the R3 to prevent the the F-35 can do in support of either the MAGTF Squadron based at Edwards Air Force Base, arm from rubbing: the cause of the engine fi re in [Marine Air Ground Task Force] or the joint force California and Marine Operational and Evaluation AF-27. All of VMFA-121’s aircraft fl ew the profi le commander’s mission, whether that’s the air-to-air Squadron 22 (VMX-22) ‘Argonauts’ based at Yuma. which gave them an aerodynamic envelope of role, escorting MV-22s or armed reconnaissance. Lt Col Gillette quantifi ed 121’s work and the 5.5 G for training. We need to be able to do all those things well. level of exchange: “We happen to have 17 pilots The long-term fi x requires installation of a re- That’s the same for the fi rst F-35B squadron as who regularly fl y the missions. Other units in the designed fan module with an internal pre-trenched any other Harrier, Hornet unit.” F-35 programme are doing tactical employment groove. This engineering fi x was installed at the When the author asked Lt Col Gillette if VMFA- but on a smaller scale. The OT&E units have depots in all ten aircraft required for IOC. 121 conducts any of the mission sets diff erently fewer aircraft assigned so the number of sorties because of the unique capabilities of the F-35B, each one generates is fewer.” Why TacAir he replied: “The manner in which you execute US Marine Corps TacAir (tactical aviation) any given mission order doesn’t change but the Block 2B primarily exists for one reason: to ensure manner in which you operate your aircraft can The fi nal version of Block 2B software (known as whatever the ground commander’s mission, he change based on its capabilities. We’re working 2BR5) loaded on VMFA-121’s aircraft for the IOC has responsive and eff ective close-air support at with MAWTS-1, the Air Force Weapons School, work-up and operational readiness inspection his beck and call when needed. Top Gun, Air Force OT&E [operational test and improved the mission systems capability and During a visit to Yuma prior to the IOC evaluation] and Marine Corps OT&E to get stability throughout the extended fl ight envelope declaration, Lt Col Steve Gillette, VMFA-121’s those tactical recommendations. We see how and provided better sensor fusion. commanding offi cer, told the author: “The core of recommendations work and provide feedback to Major Greg Summa, VMFA-121’s then TacAir is to drive nails with weapons in the name the respective organisations.” executive offi cer, said the ability to share data of what the ground commander needs you to do. Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron between aircraft and see what another pilot is As we get ready to declare IOC, fi rst and foremost 1 (MAWTS-1) and Top Gun are the weapons seeing in his airplane without having to make any descriptive communication call translates F-35B Lightning IIs on the fl ight into tactical decision making at a much quicker deck of the USS Wasp during rate. “The kill chain, the ability to get tagged-ID OT I on May 20. Cpl Anne Henry/ and then target that chain or loop, has sped-up US Marine Corps exponentially because of that,” he said. The advent of Block 2BR5 has benefi ted the combat capability of the aircraft in several ways. The pilot is not dependent on voice communications nor does he have to spend time determining the battle space environment and how to address a specifi c tactical problem. Maj Summa said the challenge is getting aircrew to recognise how they were going to make tactical decisions based off increased capabilities. “Our training is an iterative process of learning how to do it as a single ship then as a section [two] with lots of information fl owing back and forth between aircraft. That takes our training to another level. “Simultaneously the aerodynamic envelope, both speed and G, has greatly improved. We can fl y supersonically and to do things the airplane was built to do. They have been signed off and are part of our basic operating procedures.” Lt Col Gillette said: “Confi gured with Block 2B software gives situational awareness, sensor capability and lethality on the battlefi eld that is head and shoulders above anything that the Marine Corps currently fl ies, hands down, unequivocally. Are there glitches in the software where we see anomalies, certainly, but it will continue to improve.” 44 F-35 Lightning II US Navy plane handlers move an F-35B around the hangar deck of USS Wasp. Royal Naval School of Flight Deck Operations Flight Operations With Block 2B, the squadron was able to increase its training envelope; specifi cally in close air support (CAS) and armed reconnaissance and prove its ability to execute the missions and to do so more aggressively if required. “Previously the pilot had to be very aware of the airplane’s limits. Now you have a little bit more of a grace period to go to the increased G and speed limits,” said Maj Summa. Block 2B’s envelope also enabled VMFA-121 pilots to conduct much more training in long- range and short-range air-to-air engagements.
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