11 problems with the F-35 stealth aircraft

A report pointing out the problem of the F-35, a stealth fighter owned by the US, is drawing attention.

The F-35 is divided into three types: the F-35 with general take-off and landing capability CTOL, the F-35B, a short-range take-off and vertical landing aircraft, STOVL, and the F-35C, a ship type. According to the documents that have been obtained, the problems are slightly different depending on these types.

The first problem is that in the case of the F-35B and F-35C, it is difficult to control the maneuver that involves a high angle of attack of 20 degrees or more, which can occur in air combat, and unexpected nose up and down, and unstable yaw and rolling may occur. Lockheed Martin said it plans to modify and supplement the flight control system software.

Next, on the F-35B and F-35C, automatic burners at Mach 1.2 or higher can damage the stealth coating and horizontal tail wings. Specifically, the F-35B needs 3 minutes cooling time after 80 seconds of flight at Mach 1.2. The F-35C doesn’t have a limit at Mach 1.2, but at Mach 1.3 it needs 3 minutes of cooling for 50 seconds. However, such a problem occurs only in extreme cases, and Lockheed Martin said there is no plan to find a solution to this problem.

The next is that the F-35B may not be able to provide enough power when making vertical landings in temperatures above 32.2 degrees Celsius. This can make landing difficult or in some cases lead to aircraft loss. Lockhit Martin said it will make software modifications and ensure optimal performance even under high temperature conditions.

The next thing is that the F-35A will show a false warning that a serious fault has occurred in the battery when it gets cold. This problem is expected to be solved by changing the battery heater control system and software.

In the F-35A and F-35B, if a tire ruptures, debris can damage the hydraulic brake system, making it difficult to stop the aircraft. Lockheed Martin responded to a similar problem that occurred with the F-35C, but has no plans to respond to the F-35A and F-35B.

The following is a case where the pilot complains of pain in the ear and back when the air pressure in the cabin rises suddenly. Lockheed Martin is said to have developed an improved version of the pressure control system as a countermeasure.

In addition, the F-35 includes a display that allows you to see 360 degrees around the aircraft in the helmet. However, when flying in low-light conditions, such as at night, a green line called green glow appears on the night display and continues to be reported. According to Lockheed Martin, this problem will be solved with a third-generation helmet using OLED.

The next problem is similar. According to the video sent to the helmet display, horizontal stripes may enter as the sharpness of the horizon decreases in certain situations at night. This problem is also expected to be solved with the third generation helmet.

It is pointed out that the AN/APG-81, the fire control radar, has a limited field of view in the maritime search mode. The U.S. Department of Defense F-35 Joint Program Office has mentioned that a modified version of the software is being developed, but the response is expected to occur only after 2024.

Next, the F-35’s automatic maintenance information system ALIS (Autonomic Logistics Information System) is linked to mission time loss that causes confusion in the transportation of unreliable spare parts in problem diagnosis and spare parts inventory management. It is unclear how Lockheed Martin and the F-35 joint program office will deal with this problem. It is said that the US Air Force is already working on an alternative system.

Lastly, the F-35 was developed as an integrated strike fighter that could be replaced by fighter, combat attack, and ground attack aircraft not only in the United States but also in allies. Therefore, it is pointed out that cloud-based ALIS operation is a safety risk. In this regard, it is said that the firewall (ALIS Sovereign Data Management System) has been running since the beginning of this year. Related information can be found here .