Fixing the F-35?

Quick way to fix up the F-35 program?

Dump the helmet. Have a HUD. Helmet solution? Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) as used by F-15, 16, 18.



Create a YF-35D. STOVL. This project will use bleed air off of the engine much like the Harrier or X-32. If the STOVL requirement is really that important, this has to be investigated.

Kill the C model. Create a YF-35E. This will use some of the technology of the existing F-35 but will be designed from the ground up as a carrier strike aircraft.

Simplify the avionics. Use the combat avionics similar to the F-16 Block 60 for export.

Kill the bloated maintenance management model known as ALIS.

Allow FMS for customers. Kill the partner nation nonsense.

Bring GE/Rolls in for jet-engine competition.

Field an AIM-120 that has the nose sensor of an AIM-9X. Create another variant for precision air-to-ground strike.

Create a YF-35F. This will use some of the F-35 technology, but will have less sophisticated avionics; no weapons bays, and be built around a gun system with around 1000 rounds of ammo. It will be mostly for close air support. It will be ugly but useful.

YF-39 Like the D above only using a much smaller airframe (14k empty weight?) based around the GE motor found in the Super Hornet.

YF-39U UCAV of the YF-39.

Other issues have to be considered to take into account if the current flight controls are the way to go: better redundancy on auxiliary power; and resistance to battle damage.

Those are just a few of the ideas. They may not work but one thing is for sure; we have a lot of talent tied up making the wrong aircraft.