Pentagon will not raise F-35A lightning restrictions after {hardware} and software program repair

WASHINGTON — Essentially the most extensively used model of the F-35 nonetheless can’t fly in lightning, and regardless of {hardware} and software program modifications, the Pentagon doesn’t have a path ahead to raise ongoing flight restrictions.

In June 2020, the Pentagon’s F-35 Joint Program Workplace instated flight restrictions for the F-35A standard takeoff and touchdown variant after broken tubes had been discovered inside its key lightning safety system, the Onboard Inert Fuel Technology System, or OBIGGS.

Air Power Occasions reported earlier this 12 months that this system workplace may clear the fighter to start flying inside 25 miles of lightning after testing a repair for the OBIGGS system this summer time. Nonetheless, after assessing the {hardware} and software program upgrades, the JPO has really useful flight restrictions stay in place, in response to Chief Petty Officer Matthew Olay, an F-35 JPO spokesman.

“Because of extra findings earlier this 12 months, this improve will present an enchancment, however is inadequate to raise the lightning restriction,” Olay instructed Breaking Protection. “Lightning restrictions will probably be lifted when all security considerations are resolved or acceptably mitigated.”

The JPO declined to touch upon what brought on this system workplace to maintain flight restrictions in place, with Olay stating that “resulting from operational safety causes the JPO won’t touch upon the precise findings.”

It’s additionally unclear if this system workplace has a plan to additional enhance OBIGGS or a timeline for when lightning restrictions will finally be lifted. “The JPO continues to take steps to deal with all lightning restriction considerations via all obtainable means. Lightning restrictions will probably be lifted when all security considerations are resolved or acceptably mitigated,” Olay mentioned, with out elaboration, in response to these questions.

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The F-35 depends on its OBIGGS to securely fly in thunderstorms or different situations the place lightning is current. The system makes the jet’s gas tanks inert by pumping nitrogen-enriched air inside — stopping the plane from exploding if  the tanks are struck by lightning.

The F-35’s OBIGGs system has been headache for the Pentagon at a number of instances all through the Lockheed Martin-made plane’s lifespan — typically leading to japes about how an plane known as “Lightning II” can’t fly in its namesake. Within the early 2010s, the Pentagon imposed flight restrictions on the F-35 after its unbiased weapons tester found the gas tanks weren’t receiving sufficient nitrogen-enriched fuel to make it utterly inert. After the OBIGGS was redesigned, this system workplace cleared the F-35 to fly close to lightning in 2014.

The newest downside was present in June 2020 throughout routine depot upkeep of an F-35A at Hill Air Power Base’s Ogden Logistics Complicated in Utah. On the time, Bloomberg reported a JPO memo describing inspections the place 14 of the 24 F-35As assessed contained OBIGGS with broken tubing.

The problem brought on the Pentagon to quickly pause F-35 deliveries for a pair weeks with a view to rule out an issue with OBIGGS manufacturing, however deliveries resumed after Lockheed validated that it was putting in the system accurately, with points growing later after operational use, a Lockheed spokesman mentioned then.

This system workplace started implementing a {hardware} modification in November 2021 that “replaces a bit of OBIGGS tubing and fittings with a extra strong design” higher in a position to stand up to the vibrations that happen throughout flight, Olay mentioned. A software program enchancment, which notifies a pilot when the OBIGGS system is degraded, started rolling out in August 2022.

The Air Power owns about 375 F-35As as of fiscal 2022, in response to the service’s funds. The JPO declined to touch upon what number of of these plane have gone via the {hardware} retrofit course of to date, citing operational safety considerations. Nonetheless, all A fashions will obtain the upgraded {hardware}, “regardless if tube injury is discovered,” Olay mentioned. These modifications are happening on the unit stage and will probably be full by 2025.

Though flight restrictions stay in place — and fighter pilots keep away from coaching in thunderstorms no matter what plane they’re working — there have been circumstances the place F-35 pilots have discovered themselves flying in inclement climate and had been struck by lightning.

As of late January 2022, F-35 items throughout Air Power, Marine Corps and Navy had reported 15 lightning strikes which have brought on injury to F-35s working in midair, reported Air Power Occasions.

Throughout an Aug. 3, 2021 incident, lightning hit an F-35 throughout flight, damaging the jet’s cover and panels on its fuselage. The pilot was unhurt, however the Air Power categorized the occasion as a Class B mishap, with the estimated value to repair the plane amounting between $600,000 and $2.5 million, in response to the report.