
The Navy sure does like their Super Hornets:
"INDUSTRY INTEL — NAVY CHIEF WANTS TO KEEP BUYING SUPER HORNETS: The commander of Naval Air Forces says he's pushing for the Navy to keep purchasing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets after fiscal year 2018 when the service is scheduled to stop buying the Boeing-made fighter jets. The Navy's latest five-year budget plan calls for buying two of the jets next fiscal year, 14 in fiscal 2018 and then none after that as the service transitions to buying more F-35 fighter jets. But Vice Adm. Michael Shoemaker said today he's advocating for the Navy to continue buying Super Hornets and to continue upgrading them, in part because of delays in the F-35 program that have led to a maintenance backlog for F-18s, which are being flown longer than planned to make up the difference."
Read more: http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/morni ... z4Hmig0qD4
VADM Shoemaker also hints at "challenges" [code for problems] with F-35C in ongoing operational testing (although training and milcon are preceding on track):
"During his remarks, the head of Naval Air Forces also provided an update on the F-35C joint strike fighter, which is currently undergoing another round of sea trials with the USS George Washington aircraft carrier.
The Air Force A-variant of the F-35 was declared operational earlier this month. The Marine Corps B-variant reached the milestone last year. The Navy is aiming to declare initial operating capability for its C-variant by late 2018, Shoemaker said.
“Right now we’re working through some challenges with operational tests but … everything is on track from a training [and military construction] perspective to be ready to accept and declare IOC” by the target date, he said.
The joint strike fighter program has been plagued by technical problems and schedule slippage. The complex software that accompanies the aircraft has been one of the biggest development hurdles.
“The big concern I think is that 3F software,” Shoemaker said, noting that the readiness of the technology would factor into the Navy’s calculations when it comes to declaring the F-35C operational.
“I’m confident that we’re going to get there,” he said."
http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/ ... px?ID=2277
"INDUSTRY INTEL — NAVY CHIEF WANTS TO KEEP BUYING SUPER HORNETS: The commander of Naval Air Forces says he's pushing for the Navy to keep purchasing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets after fiscal year 2018 when the service is scheduled to stop buying the Boeing-made fighter jets. The Navy's latest five-year budget plan calls for buying two of the jets next fiscal year, 14 in fiscal 2018 and then none after that as the service transitions to buying more F-35 fighter jets. But Vice Adm. Michael Shoemaker said today he's advocating for the Navy to continue buying Super Hornets and to continue upgrading them, in part because of delays in the F-35 program that have led to a maintenance backlog for F-18s, which are being flown longer than planned to make up the difference."
Read more: http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/morni ... z4Hmig0qD4
VADM Shoemaker also hints at "challenges" [code for problems] with F-35C in ongoing operational testing (although training and milcon are preceding on track):
"During his remarks, the head of Naval Air Forces also provided an update on the F-35C joint strike fighter, which is currently undergoing another round of sea trials with the USS George Washington aircraft carrier.
The Air Force A-variant of the F-35 was declared operational earlier this month. The Marine Corps B-variant reached the milestone last year. The Navy is aiming to declare initial operating capability for its C-variant by late 2018, Shoemaker said.
“Right now we’re working through some challenges with operational tests but … everything is on track from a training [and military construction] perspective to be ready to accept and declare IOC” by the target date, he said.
The joint strike fighter program has been plagued by technical problems and schedule slippage. The complex software that accompanies the aircraft has been one of the biggest development hurdles.
“The big concern I think is that 3F software,” Shoemaker said, noting that the readiness of the technology would factor into the Navy’s calculations when it comes to declaring the F-35C operational.
“I’m confident that we’re going to get there,” he said."
http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/ ... px?ID=2277