Here are the programs that made the biggest news over the past week:
More troubles for F-35? — Reuters reported
late last week that Lockheed Martin will have to redesign bulkheads on the F-35 that developed cracks during stress testing, but the Pentagon insisted that the issue wouldn’t keep the Marines from fielding their version of the aircraft in 2015. It’s the latest setback from a program that is under greater pressure than ever before to meet its current schedule to prevent further strain on the Navy and Air Force fighter fleet, which faces a capability gap in the coming years as aging aircraft retire. In a more positive development, we reported last Wednesday that two Marine F-35B aircraft flew in close formation while in the short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) mode for the first time.
Fifth GPS satellite enters orbit — Word came down last week that the Air Force had successfully launched the fifth Global Positioning System (GPS) IIF satellite into space. We reported that the satellite, which left the atmosphere Thursday evening, sent its first signals from space shortly after launch. The sixth satellite will be joining it soon: it’s already at the Florida launch site undergoing preparations for a launch this spring.
C-5M achieves IOC — The Air Force has declared the C-5M Super Galaxy to be operational, according to multiple reports, which means that there is sufficient aircraft, training, and spares to permit the C-5M to operate as needed. The service took delivery of the 16th C-5M last month, and expects to have all 52 aircraft in service by the end of 2016, Air Force Magazine reported.
Work on MQ-4C mission control center begins — The Navy has officially broken ground on the new MQ-4C Triton Mission Control Center in Florida, a $16 million facility that will include electromagnetic, interference-shielded mission control systems and a tactical operations, according to Jacksonville.com. In October, the Navy announced it would establish Unmanned Patrol Squadron (VUP)-19 at Naval Air Station Jacksonville to operate and maintain the MQ-4C unmanned aircraft.