Air Force ‘Frankensteins' Two Wrecked Aircraft Into Working F-35
In late 2023, the F-35 Joint Program Office assembled a 'dream team' consisting of the 388th Fighter Wing, the Ogden Air Logistics Complex and Lockheed Martin. The mission: rebuild an AF-211 that lost its nose cone in 2021 using the front end of an F-35 that suffered a severe engine fire in 2014. The endeavor was affectionately called the 'Franken-bird' project.
Most Read on IEN:
South Carolina Law Would Prevent Purchases from In-State Auto Plant
Small 3D-Printed Piece Could Save Air Force Millions in Fuel Costs
Honeywell, One of the Few Remaining U.S. Industrial Conglomerates, Will Split into Three Companies
PODCAST: Master Lock Leaves; GM's Quick Caddy; Bridgestone Plant Closes
Scott Taylor, a lead mechanical engineer at Lockheed Martin, said his team was already looking into feasibility since it has already pulled off a restoration project on an F-22 with significant damage. But this was the first time trying something like this with an F-35.
'All of the aircraft sections can be de-mated and re-mated theoretically, but it's just never been done before,' Taylor told the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. 'This is the first F-35 'Franken-bird' to date. This is history.'
The work involved re-installing landing gear, rewiring the aircraft, rebuilding the cockpit, and installing several components that don't often pop up in flight line maintenance shops. It involved completing several tasks that had never occurred at the field level, resulting in valuable updates to the technical data used by all F-35 maintainers.
On top of all that new proficiency, the project is estimated to have cost under $6 million dollars, way less than the typical $80 million shelled out for a new F-35A.
After completing a successful functional flight, the 'Franken-bird' is off to Texas for final certifications before returning to service.
Click here to subscribe to our daily newsletter featuring breaking manufacturing industry news.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
18 hours ago
- Business Insider
US approves potential $346 million sale of munitions, bombs and rockets to Nigeria
The Pentagon said that the U.S. State Department has approved possible sales of munitions, precision-guided bombs, and rockets to Nigeria, valued at an estimated $346 million. The U.S. State Department approved proposed sales of munitions and precision-guided bombs to Nigeria worth $346 million. The deal includes FMU-139 fuzes, bomb components, rockets, and various support services. Contracts for this sale will be managed by major defence companies like Lockheed Martin, RTX Missiles and Defence, and BAE Systems. The Pentagon said on Wednesday that the U.S. State Department has approved possible sales of munitions, precision-guided bombs, and rockets to Nigeria, valued at an estimated $346 million. The Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said Nigeria has requested to purchase: 1,002 MK-82 general-purpose 500 lb bombs 1,002 MXU-650 Air Foil Groups (AFGs) for 500 lb Paveway II GBU-12 515 MXU-1006 AFGs for 250 lb Paveway II GBU-58 1,517 MAU-169 or MAU-209 computer control groups for Paveway II GBU-12/GBU-58 1,002 FMU-152 joint programmable fuzes 5,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) all-up rounds, each consisting of a WGU-59/B guidance section, high-explosive warhead, and MK66-4 rocket motor. The package also includes non-major defence equipment (non-MDE) such as FMU-139 joint programmable fuzes, bomb components, impulse cartridges, high-explosive and practice rockets, integration support, and test equipment, along with U.S. government and contractor-provided technical, engineering, and logistics services. Key contractors in the deal According to the statement, the contracts will be executed by Lockheed Martin, RTX Missiles and Defence, and BAE Systems. Lockheed Martin is renowned for its advanced autonomous systems, aircraft, missiles, space launchers, and integrated defence solutions. RTX, the world's second-largest military company by revenue, produces aircraft engines, guided missiles, air defence systems, radars, and cybersecurity technologies. BAE Systems plc, headquartered in London, is the largest defence contractor in Europe and ranks among the leading global defence companies.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Poland's F-16s Are About To Become Much More Potent
The Polish Ministry of Defense has signed a $3.8 billion contract to upgrade the country's 48 F-16C/D Block 52+ Viper fighters to the F-16V configuration. Poland's Block 52+ jets are already some of the most advanced F-16s in Europe. This is the latest example of a staggering Polish defense spending spree that has now been going on for years, as the country works to modernize its entire armed forces, with a particular eye toward meeting threats from Russia. Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, Poland's Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, announced the signing of the F-16 upgrade deal today. The state-run Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze No. 2 S.A. (Military Aviation Works No. 2), which has a formal relationship with the manufacturer of the jets, Lockheed Martin, will perform the upgrade work. 'Over 20 years ago, our predecessors made the choice of aircraft to replace the post-Soviet equipment in the Polish Air Force. We chose the F-16, and it was a very good decision – a proven aircraft, a platform capable of extraordinary combat operations,' Kosiniak-Kamysz said, according to a machine translation of a Polish-language statement put out today. 'The current capabilities of the F-16 C/D version are good, but after 20 years, they are insufficient to address the threats. We need to improve reconnaissance capabilities, communications, integration with the F-35 … as well as the ability to operate in any domain.' Poland is in the process of acquiring a fleet of 32 F-35A Joint Strike Fighters. The goal is for that force to reach full operational capability by the end of the decade. Lockheed Martin rolled out the first of the jets, which will be named Husarz (Hussar) in Polish service, last year. Polish pilots also began training on the F-35A in the United States in January. 'The modernization will cover not only the aircraft themselves but also radar, communications, friend-or-foe reconnaissance systems, ground infrastructure, simulators, and trainers,' Poland's Kosiniak-Kamysz said today, but did not provide further specifics. The U.S. government had approved the potential sale of items and services required for what was referred to as a 'Viper Midlife Upgrade' back in October 2024. At that time, the value of the total package was estimated to be around $7.3 billion, nearly twice as much as the stated price tag on the deal announced today. It is very possible that the contract with Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze No. 2 S.A. is just one part of what will be required to complete the upgrade program. From what was outlined last year, the upgrades for Poland's F-16s are set to most prominently include Northrop Grumman's AN/APG-83 active Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR). This active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar is the centerpiece of the F-16V configuration and is also now a standard feature on new-production Block 70/72 Vipers. SABR offers important benefits compared to the mechanically-scanned AN/APG-68 radars found on Poland's Vipers now. This includes being able to scan far faster, acquiring more targets and at longer ranges, as well as the ability to produce more precise and higher fidelity tracks, even when it comes to smaller and stealthier objects. The radar is also far more reliable than its predecessor and more resistant to electronic countermeasures. AESAs, in general, have secondary electronic warfare and communications potential, as well. Polish Vipers are also in line to get new modular, open-architecture mission computers, as well as upgrades to their communications and navigation capabilities. New AN/APX-126/127 Advanced Identification Friend or Foe (AIFF) combined interrogator/transponders were listed in the Pentagon's press release about the Viper Midlife Upgrade. A new electronic warfare package will also go into Poland's modernized F-16s, though what type is not yet clear. The door was left open last year to either L3Harris' AN/ALQ-254(V)1 Viper Shield or Northrop Grumman's AN/ALQ-257 Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite (IVEWS). In September 2024, Breaking Defense reported that the two companies were hotly competing for a Polish contract. As Lockheed Martin has laid it out in the past, the F-16V upgrade package also includes improved datalinks and cockpit displays. Improved inoperability with the F-35 was also an important factor in the development of the V configuration. Poland's Block 52+ jets already feature conformal fuel tanks, and the country's two-seat D variants have enlarged dorsal spines, which can accommodate additional avionics, communications systems, countermeasures, and more. The Polish Ministry of Defense says the F-16 upgrade program will begin in earnest in 2028 and run through 2038. 'For 20 years, F-16s have protected Polish skies, participated in foreign missions, including air policing over the Baltic states, and were sent wherever our allies needed them,' Poland's Kosiniak-Kamysz noted in his statement today. Poland became a member of NATO in 1999. The aerial threat picture facing Poland has substantially evolved in recent years in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Polish authorities are acutely aware of the risk of spillover, including from stray missiles and drones. In 2022, two civilians in Poland were killed by falling debris as Ukrainian forces worked to intercept incoming Russian threats. Polish airspace has been violated on other occasions since then. For Poland, there is also the matter of simmering geopolitical friction with Russian ally Belarus. Tensions along the Polish-Belarusian border have flared multiple times in recent years. Amid all of this, Poland has steadily pushed to take a greater role in NATO. This includes moves to join the alliance's nuclear sharing agreements, through which select members are prepared to employ U.S. B61-series nuclear gravity bombs, if authorized. As noted, the F-16 upgrade plan is just one part of a larger Polish modernization effort across its entire military. In recent years, the country has signed billions of dollars' worth of contracts for other combat jets (including the F-35s and FA-50 light fighters from South Korea) and a massive buy of AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, as well as new main battle tanks, short-range ballistic missiles, and self-propelled artillery. On the air defense front, Poland is also planning to field a network of balloon-based early-warning sensors. Poland's Kosiniak-Kamysz also touted the benefits that the F-16 modernization work, specifically, will bring to the country's domestic defense industry, which has also been steadily expanding in recent years. 'This is a major investment, carried out with the state's finances in mind and thanks to taxpayers,' he said. 'Our goal is for Poland to be among the top three NATO countries in terms of operational capabilities. This modernization is a step in that direction.' Overall, Poland's F-16 upgrade program represents a major commitment by the country to continue operating the Viper for the foreseeable future, even as its stealthy F-35 fleet comes online. Contact the author: joe@ Solve the daily Crossword
Newsweek
a day ago
- Newsweek
Key US Ally Eyes Alternative to America's F-35 Jet
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The United Arab Emirates is eyeing South Korea's most advanced fighter jet, the KF-21 Boramae, after canceling plans to acquire U.S. F-35 stealth fighters. Newsweek has reached out to the Emirati Defense Ministry and South Korea's Air Force for comment. Why It Matters South Korea is emerging as a major defense exporter. The UAE, another key U.S. ally, is weighing alternatives to American weapons, highlighting a shift among Arab nations toward suppliers such as South Korea, China, and Turkey, fueled by curbs on the F-35 program and mounting frustration over Washington's failure to broker a Gaza ceasefire while continuing to offer Israel unwavering support. A model of a KF-21 Boramae multi-role fighter aircraft is displayed during the Farnborough International Airshow on July 23, 2024 in Farnborough, England. A model of a KF-21 Boramae multi-role fighter aircraft is displayed during the Farnborough International Airshow on July 23, 2024 in Farnborough, To Know During talks on security and defense-industry cooperation, the UAE's defense undersecretary inspected a prototype version of South Korea's KF-21 at Sacheon Air Base and flew as a passenger in the rear seat of one of the aircraft, officials said. In April, the two countries signed a letter of intent to pursue comprehensive cooperation on the KF-21 fighter jet program. The KF-21 Boramae, set to replace aging F-4 and F-5 jets, is being developed by Korea Aerospace Industries and the Korean Agency for Defense Development with partners including Lockheed Martin. It has a 1,000 km combat range, carries air-to-air, air-to-surface, and anti-ship missiles plus guided and cluster bombs, as well as featuring semi-stealth characteristics, according to the National Security Journal, a defense platform. The UAE announced plans to purchase 50 F-35 jets soon after normalizing ties with Israel under the 2020 Abraham Accords but canceled the deal because of U.S. security conditions, operational restrictions, and tensions over Emirati relations with China, prompting the Gulf nation to pursue a broader strategy of weapons diversification. The UAE pledged to invest over $1 trillion in the U.S. economy over the next decade during President Donald Trump's visit to the country as part of a Gulf tour in May 2025. South Korea accelerates plans for KF-21 Block 2 and maritime helicopter procurement. — International Defence Analysis (@Defence_IDA) August 13, 2025 What People Are Saying Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, UAE professor of political science and non-resident senior fellow at Harvard University, told Newsweek: "From now on the UAE is no longer bound by one source for modernizing its Armed Forces. This has come as a result of America being too demanding and being very political. I believe the F-35 deal triggered it massively. France is there, with little conditions, definitely less than the American ones, and now we also find out that in the east there's a strong partner called South Korea." The Army Recognition Group defense news website says: "Compared to the F-35 Lightning II, the KF-21 offers less stealth and lacks full fifth-generation networking capability but compensates with significantly lower acquisition and operating costs, simplified maintenance and fewer export restrictions, which could be appealing to countries seeking operational independence." South Korea's Air Force Chief of Staff General Lee Young-su said in February after a flight test, according to The Korean Times: "In terms of power, maneuverability, avionics and weapon capabilities, I am confident that the KF-21 will stand shoulder to shoulder with world-class fighter jets." What Happens Next South Korea plans to roll out an upgraded KF-21EX variant with internal weapons bays and enhanced stealth features.
