English News : F-35s Grounded for Software, Hinge Fixes

The software problem that grounded all three jet variants was discovered during laboratory testing, a Pentagon spokeswoman said. (Lockheed Martin)

Flight testing of all F-35 Joint Strike Fighter variants has been temporarily suspended until software that controls functioning of the engine's three fuel boost pumps is modified, the Pentagon said Oct. 1.

In addition, short takeoff/vertical landing-mode flight testing operations have been prohibited for the F-35B variant after post-flight inspections revealed an issue with the auxiliary inlet door hinge on test aircraft BF-1, said Lockheed Martin spokesman John Kent.

The auxiliary inlet doors, located immediately aft of the lift fan, open to feed additional air to the engine during short takeoffs, vertical landings, hovers and slow-speed flight, Kent said.

The software problem that grounded all three jet variants and led to incorrect sequencing was discovered during laboratory testing, Pentagon spokeswoman Cheryl Irwin said. Left uncorrected, she said, "This could have possibly triggered a shutdown on the three boost pumps, which could potentially cause an engine stall."

Irwin said that such a simultaneous shutdown would be highly unlikely but that "prudence dictated a suspension of operations, temporarily, until the fuel boost pump signal timing was corrected."

Irwin said that update of the software that controls the functioning of the three boost pumps has been developed and that Lockheed engineers plan to complete functional and safety tests prior to installation in the test aircraft. Kent said the update, developed in partnership with fuel system software developer BAE Systems, will be delivered this weekend.

Flight testing will resume Oct. 5, Irwin said.

Kent said F-35B STOVL-mode flights will resume after the root cause has been identified and corrected.

The issues were first reported by aviationweek.com.

The Joint Strike Fighter is a joint, multi-national, single-seat, single-engine family of next-generation strike aircraft being developed for the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps by Lockheed Martin in three variants: short takeoff and landing, conventional takeoff and landing, and aircraft carrier-capable.

From: DN

Berita Terkait:

Pesawat Tempur

• Dua Su-30MK2 TNI AU Tiba Di Makasar
• Darurat , Tol Jagorawi Dijadikan Landasan Pesawat Tempur
• Ketua KNKT : Lanud Polonia Harus Aman Untuk F-16
• Korsel Kembangkan Internal Waepon Bay Untuk Pesawat Tempur K/IFX
• Wamenhan : KKIP Berhasil Yakinkan Komisi I Tentang Program KFX/IFX
• Rusia Berharap Bisa Negosiasi Su-35 Kepada Indonesia
• Indonesia Siapkan Dana Rp. 15 Triliun Untuk Pengembangan IFX
• Siapapun Presiden Nanti, Harus Komitmen Dengan Proyek KFX
• EADS Tawarkan Dana Segar $ 2 Miliar Bila Menang Dalam Pengadaan Pesawat Tempur Korsel
• Komisi I Mau Pastikan Pesawat Tempur Sukhoi Baru Sudah Bersenjata
• Komisi I : Penundaan Sepihak Proyek KFX Ganggu Hubungan RI-Korsel
• Dua Pesawat Tempur Su-30MK2 Tiba Di Tanah Air
• Ini Alasan Korsel Tunda Proyek Pesawat Tempur KFX
• KSAU : TNI AU Tolak Hibah Pesawat Tempur F-5 Korsel
• Menhan : KFX Ditunda, Karena Indonesia Dan Korsel Ingin Buat Selevel F-35
• TNI AU Kembali Terima 8 Mesin Sukhoi Dari Rusia
• 2013, TNI AU Akan Lengkapi Satu Skuadron Sukhoi
• KAI Gelar Seminar "2013, KFX Harus Segera Diimplementasikan"
• Menhan Masih Mempertimbangkan Hibah F-5 Dari Korsel
• Korsel Paham Kekuatiran Indonesia Atas Penundaan KFX
• EADS Menantang Boeing Dan Lockheed Martin Dalam Pengadaan Pesawat Tempur Korsel
• Perkuat Selat Malaka, Satu Skuadron F-16 Disiapkan di Pekanbaru
• Dua Sukhoi Baru TNI AU Sukses Test Flight
• Komisi I : Kami Menyanyangkan Progam Pengembangan KFX Tidak Bejalan Mulus
• Ini Jawaban Kemhan Penyebab Tertunda Pengembangan Pesawat Tempur KF-X/IF-X

Teknologi

• Korsel Kembangkan Internal Waepon Bay Untuk Pesawat Tempur K/IFX
• Nipress : 2025, Kami Supplai Baterai Untuk 18 Kapal Selam TNI AL
• Meristek Yakin Indonesia Kurangi Ketergantungan Alutsista Dari Luar Negeri
• ITS : Korsel Tak Tulus ToT Kapal Selam Kepada Indonesia
• EADS Tawarkan Dana Segar $ 2 Miliar Bila Menang Dalam Pengadaan Pesawat Tempur Korsel
• Proses Alih Teknologi Kapal Selam Korsel Masih Berjalan Alot
• Sharp Avionik K Gandeng Elbit System Dalam Pengembangan Proyek LAH Dan KFX
• TNI AL Memilih Simulator Nautis Class A Untuk Pelatihan Kapal Perang Sigma
• Industri Pertahanan Nasional Sudah Menguasai Teknologi Level Menegah
• Bila Diinginkan, Indonesia Dengan Mudah Membuat Senjata Nuklir
• PT DI Akan Produksi Simulator CN-235 Dan Super Puma
• Radar INDRA Akan Dipasang Di Tiga Kapal Selam Indonesia
• Korsel Rilis Bom Korean GPS Guided Bomb Untuk KFX Kepada Publik
• Debat Polemik Pengembangan Pesawat Tempur KFX
• TNI AL Inginkan Tingkatkan Alih Teknologi Dengan AS
• Pengamat : Israel Gagal Membuat Jet Tempur Kfir Yang Tangguh
• TNI AU Kembali Aktifkan ACMI Pekanbaru
• Departemen Pertahanan Bangun Pertahanan Cyber
• TNI Gandeng UI Untuk Mengembangkan Kapal Tanpa Awak
• Menhan : Pesawat Udara Nir Awak (PUNA) Akan Diproduksi Massal
• Menristek : UAV Buatan BPPT Masih Terlalu Berisik
• KSAD : Pembelian Alutsista Luar Negeri Harus Ada Alih Teknologi
• Lapan : Nozzle Roket RX-550 Masih Bermasalah
• Spesifikasi UAV Sriti dan Alap-Alap Buatan BPPT
• BPPT Siap Mengembangkan UAV Untuk Militer