The U.S. Navy is making two critical changes to improve its aerial combat capabilities: innovative manned-unmanned teaming and strategic sizing of its F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter squadrons. These changes will improve operational effectiveness and offset critical shortfalls in the Navy’s inventory of strike fighters.
Manned-Unmanned Teaming Breakthrough
The F/A-18 and EA-18G Program Office (PMA-265) has just completed a series of successful MUM-T flight tests wherein a Block III F/A-18 Super Hornet demonstrated command and control over three unmanned aerial vehicles. The tests were conducted at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division in Pt. Mugu, California, with the support of Air Test and Evaluation Squadrons (VX) 23 and 31, together with industry partners Boeing and BAE Systems.
These demos are essential to resource and requirements planning so that we can deliver the best capabilities possible to the warfighter, said Capt. Jason Denney, PMA-265 program manager. During the demos, F/A-18 pilots used a third-party tablet to issue the commands to the UAVs, which were passed through Block III’s DTP-N. All of the commands were executed successfully by the UAVs, showing that MUM-T might be a way to extend the reach of the aircrew while keeping them farther from enemy fire.
According to Dr. Michael Yu, PMA-265 science and technology lead, exercises like these with industry partners are essential to assessing the current and future capabilities. Exercises like these will also provide data necessary to decide on the development and optimization of technologies that may someday be fielded on Navy platforms. Denney added that MUM-T has the potential to make the future fleet a more lethal and connected force, with advanced technology that stays ahead of the threats.
F-35C Squadron Size Adjustments
The Navy has begun to reconstitute carrier air wings in an attempt to fill the gap, with plans to eliminate the strike fighter deficiency by 2025. In place of the previous configuration, under which two squadrons of 10 aircraft each were put in line, the Navy will field one squadron of F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters per carrier air wing with 14 aircraft each. The strategic shift was described to the House Armed Services subcommittee on tactical air and land forces, members by Rear Adm. Andrew Loiselle, the director of the Air Warfare Division, OPNAV/N98.
An upcoming deployment of the Vinson Carrier Strike Group will be the first exercise in how F-35s can operate in tandem with older aircraft. On the other hand, on HMS Queen Elizabeth’s first deployment, a Marine Corps F-35B squadron took part in recent strike missions against ISIS targets in the Middle East.
However, to further make up for the shortfall, the Navy has taken some F-16s from the Air Force and Air National Guard and dedicated them to training at Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada, thus freeing more Super Hornets for operational duty. The Navy also reactivated 28 previously inactive Super Hornets, according to Loiselle.
Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Mo., questioned the condition of F/A-18E/F Super Hornets entering the Service Life Modification program. Loiselle said Boeing is noticing the aircraft turned over to it are in better condition due to Navy artisans performing examinations before the aircraft are sent to the contractor. That’s reduced work down the line needed to extend flying hours out to 10,000 from 6,000 hours.
Boeing Buys GKN Factory
Seeking to safeguard its fighter-jet production, Boeing Co. has acquired a facility near St. Louis from GKN Aerospace, which supplies parts for its F-15 and F/A-18 fighter jets. The deal halts costly litigation between the two companies and puts GKN’s operations on the F-15 and F/A-18 within the Boeing fold. Under the agreement, Boeing is hiring 550 GKN employees involved in those programs to ensure operations continue uninterrupted at the Hazelwood, Missouri facility.
As stated by Steve Parker, Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer for Boeing Defense, Space & Security, This agreement will enable us to deliver for our customers and support the warfighter and the St. Louis defense and aerospace industry, while bringing opportunities to our GKN workforce. The acquisition secures the future of the facility and brings it back under Boeing’s ownership as the company had spun off the facility to GKN in 2001.
The closure of the Hazelwood factory could have imperiled Boeing’s fighter programs, which are based in the St. Louis area. The F-15EX is Boeing’s newest variant of the F-15 fighter, and it’s one of the mainstays of its international business, with multibillion-dollar deals in prospect. And on top of that, Boeing’s line for the F/A-18 Super Hornet will now stretch out until 2027 thanks to the latest agreement with the U.S. Navy.
These strategic moves by the Navy and Boeing underscore the commitment to holding up and improving U.S. aerial combat abilities against changing threats.