Air Force establishes F-35 IOC target

News > Air Force establishes F-35 IOC target

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Lt. Col. Benjamin Bishop completes preflight checks before his first sortie in an F-35A Lightning II, March 6, 2013, at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Bishop is among the first pilots to begin the official training that began in January. The Air Force announced May 31, 2013, it expects to declare F-35 Lightning II initial operation capability in December 2016. The announcement was included in a joint report detailing service-specific IOC requirements and dates for each of the F-35 variants that was delivered to Congress. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)
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Air Force establishes F-35 IOC target

Posted 5/31/2013 Updated 5/31/2013

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5/31/2013 - WASHINGTON, D.C. (AFNS) -- The Air Force announced today it expects to declare F-35A Lightning II initial operation capability in December 2016. The announcement was included in a joint report detailing service-specific IOC requirements and dates for each of the F-35 variants that was delivered to Congress today.

"The Air Force has spent the last six months looking at our initial capability requirements and the expected availability date. This announcement is exciting news for the Air Force," said Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley. "It highlights to members of Congress, our international partners, and the American public that the program is on track to bring the United States military and our allies this critical capability."

Congress directed the secretary of the Air Force and secretary of the Navy to provide a report that details the IOC dates, requirements and capabilities for each of the F-35 variants by June 1.

The Air Force will achieve IOC when the first operational squadron has 12 or more aircraft and Airmen are trained and equipped to conduct basic close air support, interdiction, and limited suppression and destruction of enemy air defense operations in a contested environment.

"The F-35 is a vital capability that the nation needs to stay ahead of adversary technological gains, and it provides the multi-role capabilities that the anti-access and area denial environment of the future will require," said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III. "We're excited that this program is on the road to success, and we're grateful that our international partners remain as committed to this program as we are."

The F-35 is an unprecedented 5th generation fighter combining stealth technology with fighter speed and agility, fully integrated sensors and network enabled operations, and state-of-the-art avionics.

The world's most advanced fighter has achieved a string of milestones recently as it moves toward IOC. A few of these include the beginning of pilot training at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., in January; the delivery of the first operational test aircraft to Edwards AFB, Calif., and Nellis AFB, Nev., in March; the first operational pilot aerial refueling in April; and the completion of high angle of attack testing in May.

Comments

6/6/2013 7:46:41 AM ET
I agree with the comments regarding this causing the furlough. It's not isolated to just this program though. There are so many ways we could be saving money but nobody cares to listen. We have to have our shiny new tv's in our brand new offices with brand new computers. Makes me sick. It's not affecting me financially but I know a lot of people that it is. Infuriating. Oh no it's the end of the fiscal year we HAVE to spend the rest of our budget otherwise we won't get as much next year. Such a bs way of thinking

chris, Rota

6/5/2013 6:53:49 PM ET
China can already defeat this aircraft before it gets off the ground...see link below...and it cannot hold a candle to the F-15 F-16 or A-10. Where is LtCol John Boyd when you need him I believe he would say the same thing he said about the F-111.

Hawg, Whiteman AFB

6/5/2013 4:10:23 PM ET
I agree with Mr. Aaron Reece who can ever beat the F-15 Only the best thing ever made Throw it mods let us crew chiefs fix them ourselves and save a ton of money

Andre Tosolini, Florida

6/5/2013 10:49:32 AM ET
The F-15 and F-16 won't sustain us much longer. Like DMPI said we need to stay ahead of adversary technological gains gains such as the F-15s and F-16s that we sold to them. I just hope this plane isn't as much of a failure as the F-22.

Beck, NC

6/5/2013 10:46:04 AM ET
Oh look more comments about spending why should we have expected anything else..

Joe, Arizona

6/5/2013 8:21:47 AM ET
Well said -35 Chief. This is a capable plane and it does have impressive performance. It takes time to engineertest such a complicated machine.

Jon B, Offutt AFB NE

6/5/2013 4:06:37 AM ET
Its is amazing to see the amount of nay-sayers against the cv-22 f-22 and f-35. It is terrifing how simple minded people are. The only citizens in the world that reget the advancing air power are the ones who have never been without it.China is becoming a major player in the world. Claiming that we dont need aircraft like these because china is still 20years behind us is foolish. what SHOULD we do sit and wait until they catch up to start focusing on air defense again

Gabe, AE

6/4/2013 9:48:02 PM ET
-35 C Chief I've been watching JSF since X-32 and X-35's concept demo phase in '97. I know what it's supposed to be. Don't be insulting. Engineering and troubleshooting huh Can F-35 fly within 15 miles of lightning yet BTW you're in the lightning capital of the world. Can it fly in rain yet Lots of rain in FL. How many of the 60 planes have a functioning radar Your C-model have a proper tailhook yet 7 yrs after first production aircraft should have positive answers. I get that the tech is advanced. Military aviation always pushed the envelope and F-35 is no different. Advanced aircraft need troubleshooting and many earlier aircraft were state of the art designs in their day and reached the fleet faster. F-117 was very complicated in '83 just as the F-105 in '55 and XP-86 in '47. Read about two engineering nightmares the F-89 6 yrs from issue of specs to 1st real operational aircraft and the TFX program 7 yrs from program announcement to F-111A combat over SEA. All good things

DMPI, Arlington VA

6/4/2013 7:29:57 PM ET
Does the F-35A Lightning II's performance superior than the F-22 Raptor

RO, Davis CA

6/4/2013 1:45:29 PM ET
@DMPI The F-35 IS still being tested and DOES have alot of bugs to work out however what alot of people don't seem to understand is this is a complicated aircraft It's not like an F-16 or A-10 where its small avionics and just flight testing. Alot of the issues with testing are software problems and such that needs actual troubleshooting and time to work. Engineering my friend. I'm sure if you looked into the capability of what this aircraft is supposed to do when it is finally up to speed you'd be quite impressed and maybe even understanding of the concept- All good things take time.

-35 C Chief, Eglin AFB

6/4/2013 11:25:56 AM ET
@Aaron Reece should sustain us for a long time. You sound very convincing. Why have thousands of experts when you've already figured it all out....

A, California

6/4/2013 10:33:43 AM ET
Just a thoughtbutIf we cut some of the so eloquently said previously fraud waste and abuse projects Maybe we wouldnt have to put our homes lives and wellbeing into turmoil over having to save the government money buy a sequestration of Federal and DoD employees. I can only assume that a reduction in one or two of those planes will cover the cost of what the sequestration will accrue. The government is going to cost me as much as my house payment a month but we have money for this We the people need to start sticking up for ourselves and tell the Government what OUR wishes are and not let them keep dictating to us what THEIR going to do.

Josh, Selfridge Air National Guard Base

6/4/2013 1:49:35 AM ET
A beautiful aircraft... What money are we using to pay for it with again So we buy one or two... The US dollar fails finally since the Fed Res is finally out of ink to print more money The middle east won't take our worthless dollars and we can't put fuel in the aircraft... Great plan...

Joe, San Diego CA

6/3/2013 5:10:26 PM ET
Hey I have an idea for saving the airforce and our government money. Stop making more planes. Our F-15's and F-16's should sustain us for a long time.

Aaron Reece, Mountain Home AFB

6/3/2013 11:20:36 AM ET
JM I couldn't have said it better myself. The way things are going with drones the era of air-to-air warfare using manned aircraft will be reduced significantly in the next 15 to 20 years. So why in the holy h@ll is leadership pressing forward with the biggest example or fraud waste and abuse the AF has seen possibly Kudos to our leadership for the upcoming furlough and RIF next year.

Double S, OK

6/3/2013 11:13:44 AM ET
It's good to know that we have planes that can fight space aliens. How many other planes can we buy for the price tag of just one F-35 I think our capibility would be greater with cheaper already proven aircraft that we can buy alot more of for the same price. After all 1 Aircraft can't be in the same places of 5.

DG, Lackland AFB

6/2/2013 4:04:04 PM ET
This program is the poster child for Government waste. I believe the reason I will be furloughed is in part because of this program. Thank you Washington and Lockheed Martin

JM, Salt Lake City UT

5/31/2013 1:05:29 PM ET
If the F-35 is such a vital capability that the nation needs to stay ahead of adversary technological gains why will it take another three years for IOC eight years after the first production aircraft rolled out in Dec 08 The three variants are already in production with more than 60 built before testing is even close to completion. So far F-35 is none of the things that this and many other articles say it is but after all the time and resources spent on it I hope it does achieve them all. If the world's most advanced test aircraft is so vital and unprecedented push hard to fix the problems and get it into service.

DMPI, Arlington VA

5/31/2013 12:59:47 PM ET
If the F-35 is such a vital capability that the nation needs to stay ahead of adversary technological gains why will it take another three years for IOC eight years after the first production aircraft rolled out in Dec 08 The three variants are already in production with more than 60 built before testing is even close to completion. So far F-35 is none of the things that this and many other articles say it is but after all the time and resources spent on it I hope it does achieve them all. If the world's most advanced test aircraft is so vital and unprecedented push hard to fix the problems and get it into service.

DMPI, Arlington VA

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