From Defense Aerospace

 

Another Significant Milestone For Joint Strike Fighter Program

(Source: Australian Department of Defence; issued April 23, 2007)

 

The Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program has achieved another significant milestone with the approval of funding for Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP).

 

As of 23 April 2007, the first JSF test aircraft has completed 14 test flights. Test pilots have been impressed by the aircraft’s maturity so early in the test program and its excellent handling qualities. The aircraft has already been flown to 30,000 feet, 0.8 Mach, and 16 degrees Angle of Attack with all systems working as designed, including:

 

- the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine (in full afterburner) - the world’s most powerful fighter engine, generating 40,000 pounds of thrust;

 

- the Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) System - a major contributor to the JSF’s advanced situational awareness capabilities; and

 

- the most comprehensive instrumentation package for any combat aircraft.

 

For a first test aircraft it has also shown a very high level of reliability and maintainability having conducted two back-to-back sortie events and landed “Code 1” (i.e. ready to fly again) on 13 of 14 flights.

 

This success, and progress in the broader JSF Program, has led to US Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics) approving the release of full funding for two Conventional Take-Off and Landing Variant (CTOL) aircraft in LRIP Lot 1, and long lead funding for the six CTOL and six Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing variants in Lot 2. This significant milestone was achieved on 19 April 2007.

 

As well as the first two LRIP aircraft in production, the end of 2007 will see another 20 test aircraft in production/assembly. The head of the JSF Program, BRIGGEN C.R. Davis said “While the LRIP 1 jets do not constitute a huge leap in production, they signify the start of many deliveries to our war fighting customer."

 

Deliveries of JSF aircraft are expected to extend beyond 2030 and could comprise more than 4500 aircraft.

 

Australia’s first JSF deliveries are expected in 2013.

Is it just me or is it insane to approve production of a supersonic aircraft that hasn't broken the sound barrier? Considering this is really all about software, if the mechanical side of things are at such an early state, what must the software look like. Here I was going to rant on the UK Carrier process but this is more worth it

Maybe, mind you its just low rate initial production, which means there will be plenty of testing yet. As a comparison, though, the F-22 first went supersonic in October 1998. LRIP was approved in August 2001.