F-35, the third anomaly in software: "when it occurs, we are forced to restart the radar"

(Franco Iacch)
03/08/16

A "glitch" (malfunction of the software caused by an unforeseeable error) interferes with the ability of the radar AN / APG-81 AESA F-35. And 'it considered the main threat to the achievement of the Lightning II Initial Operational Capacity (IOC) with the Air Force, estimated between the first August and 31 December next.

It is a stability issue - said General Jeffrey Harrigian, Director of the Integration Office of the F-35 at the Pentagon - forcing us to reboot the system. We detected the anomaly in Block third last December, while test effettuavamo. Lockheed Martin has already discovered the root cause of the error and would not be expected in the course of tests to check the stability of the new software. The new code - added Harrigian - must be delivered to the USAF by the end of March, otherwise we risk any delays which might slippage, seriously, the entry into service with the Air Force.

Whereas the error is not cyclical, the ultimate solution could be transferred to the 3F. We know that the software Block third was delivered for flight test last May, to support the IOC Air Force statement. Writing the code for the final software development (Block 3F) was completed in 2015 and the software was delivered for flight test. Throughout 2016 there is more updates until the completion of the 3F expected by the end of the phase of System Development and Demonstration Program (SDD) in autumn 2017, to support the IOC Declaration Navy planned for 2018 and the start the operational evaluation phase IOT & E (Initial operational Test and evaluation). At December 31, the program had completed 80% of test points required in the development and demonstration (SDD) and was in line with the expected completion in the fourth quarter of 2017.

To temporarily solve the anomaly, Lockheed Martin could make use of "provisional" software, the same used by the development team and the operations evaluation to test the codes. We know that the Joint Program Office has confirmed four months of "potential delay" for the 3F, but confirms the operational capability by the fall of that year.

The flight tests with Block 3F began last January 15. The tests are necessary to detect any conflicts between the major systems and to make any corrections. 3F software should give full warfighting capabilities. Block third had been defined the main concern of the Pentagon. The Department of Defense for the operational assessment of the systems had not hesitated to call it a disaster.

Then remain the main problems with ALIS. The Autonomic Logistics Information System or 'ALIS' is the nerve center of the F-35 system. In intention, it should enable pilots as well as the force on the ground support to take proactive steps to ensure the efficiency of the fighter in any theater of operations. The version of 'ALIS' delivered to the Marine is 2.0.1. This version implements all the improvements made to date as part of an incremental development approach. Improved and increased the real-time capabilities of aircraft maintenance, as well as mission planning and debriefing. The missions are loaded on a hard disk. Once on the network, 'ALIS' monitors hunting and suggests to ground staff the maintenance required before and after the mission. For the Department of Defense for the operational assessment of the systems, ALIS complains "many critical and complex architecture with likely and largely untested computer deficiencies." The Block 1A / 1B comprises 78 percent of the necessary source code for Operational capability F-35 Initials providing for the training and the primary interaction between the various main software systems.

The fleet currently has "loaded" the Block-2A software. It boosts overall capabilities of the aircraft for pilot training including off-Fusion board functionality, initial data links, electronic countermeasures and debrief improved. With the block-2A, it is supplied 86 percent of the code necessary to achieve the Operative Initial Capacity. The Marine Corps with the F-35B has achieved Initial Operational Capacity with 2B software lock. 2B gives the Close Air Support basilar with the ability to launch AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile), JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) and the GBU-12 (laser-guided aerial bomb). To detect, that the F-35B in service with the Marine is equipped with a special version of the software Block 2B. The squadron of Marine, called 'Group 1', has already implemented most of the hardware changes (which will be supplemented in mass production) as strengthened bulkheads. The aircraft could go into battle with an equipment 'reduced': AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, GBU-12 and GBU-39 bombs. The F-35 Marine have the equipment necessary weapons to conduct Close Air Support, air interdiction, and a limited ability to conduct missions suppression / destruction of the enemy.

The Air Force plans to achieve Initial Operational Capacity with the F-35A in 2016 with the next iteration of the software, called 3i. Described as a technical update of the Block-2B, the third will allow the aircraft to use JDAM, GBU-12 and AMRAAM. The F-35A will have the ability to substantially close air support only in 2018, when it will reach the Full Operational Capacity. Only in 2019 (less than sensational delays), the F-35A can shoot with the internal cannon and release a variety of ammunition including AIM-9X, AMRAAM, GBU-12, GBU-31 and II-SDB (Small Diameter Bomb II).

The software Block 3F will provide 100 percent of capacity 'Warfighting' of hunting, with full integration of all external systems. The SDB-II system will be integrated with the fourth-Block software. The Block 4 will be divided into two segments. The Block-4a will be ready between 2021 and 2022, while the 4B for 2023. The twelve million dollars to write the Block-4 were included in the budget 2014. A large part of the development of Block-4 will be devoted to countermeasures against air defense systems existing enemies and those that will arise in future years.

Under the Marine Corps Aviation Plan, the F-35 will replace the entire fleet EA-6B Prowler by 2019 and will displace the AV-8B Harrier from 2026. The F-35 finally detects the F / A -18 Hornet in 2030. the Air Force will reach Initial Operational Capacity of the F-35A as soon as it formed the first squadron consists of 12 to 24 aircraft with pilots and crews trained and capable of performing close air support missions , interdiction and limited suppression and destruction of enemy air defenses. The F-35A will reach Initial Operational Capacity between August and December 2016. The US Navy finally equipped with the F-35C, will reach Initial Operational Capacity as soon as the first squadron will be formed consisting of 10 aircraft, with personnel and pilots of the Navy trained and able to carry out their assigned missions. The 'F-35C will reach Initial Operational Capacity between August 2018 and February 2019. The complete package of software 3F.

(Photo: Lockheed Martin)

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IZAKOVIC