F-35: US stealth jet crashes once more underneath mysterious circumstances | EUROtoday
Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now.
The subsequent F-35 crash – and the thriller surrounding the trigger
The F-35B stealth jet has been experiencing issues not too long ago
Source: image alliance/ZUMAPRESS.com/Dane Wiedmann/US Navy
The F-35 is taken into account probably the most trendy fighter plane on the planet. But issues are mounting: In the USA, one in all these stealth jets crashed shortly after takeoff. A video reveals the burning plane. The German military has additionally ordered F-35s.
EFirst a refueling cease, then the crash: On a ferry flight from Texas to California, a brand new model of the US F-35B stealth jet crashed within the US state of New Mexico shortly after takeoff from the US air power base in Kirtland.
As might be seen in footage on social networks, the aircraft burned out fully on the bottom close to the airport. The pilot ejected himself from the aircraft utilizing the ejection seat and was apparently taken to hospital with accidents. It is the second crash of an F-35 mannequin inside a yr – and as soon as once more appears puzzling.
Shortly after the accident, no dependable data might be given about the reason for the most recent crash on the afternoon of May 28 (native time). Experts warn towards hasty explanations.
The vary of doable causes is broad and extends from a collision with a flock of birds – the mannequin solely has one engine – to software program issues with the plane, which value roughly $100 million. According to the US tv station “CBS News”, it was a improvement mannequin, with out specifying this in additional element.
This is exceptional as a result of the producer Lockheed Martin at the moment has round 100 F-35s in storage as a result of they aren’t being delivered as a result of numerous technical issues and software program changes. Experts refer to those as Block 4 and TR-3 changes.
Lockheed Martin not too long ago admitted that the already delayed changes will drag on till the top of the yr. Overall, the mammoth challenge has been delayed for over a decade and has elevated in value by $209 billion, based on a current report by the US General Accounting Office. Over 990 models have been delivered worldwide thus far.
Incidents involving F-35 plane
Most not too long ago, an F-35 mannequin crashed within the US state of South Carolina in September 2023. This led to the bizarre state of affairs that the general public was requested to assist seek for the wreckage.
The pilot had activated the ejection seat and the fighter jet continued to fly. The particles was not discovered till greater than 24 hours later. The precise explanation for the crash remained unclear.
Every incident involving F-35 plane and delays in technical changes are additionally intently monitored by the Air Force and the Ministry of Defense in Berlin. Germany has ordered 35 F-35A plane for round 8.3 billion euros to interchange the previous Tornado bombers.
The whole value is now stated to have risen to virtually ten billion euros. These are plane from the F-35 household of plane, however not precisely the F-35B with vertical touchdown capabilities that simply burned out in New Mexico. F-35 fashions are to be seen for the primary time in flight demonstrations on the ILA aviation commerce truthful in Berlin in early June.
The two crashes inside a yr are under no circumstances the primary F-35s to crash in an accident. Over a dozen F-35s have already been misplaced prior to now ten years.
Technical defects and the extremely complicated know-how of the fighter jet are repeatedly identified. In some instances, flight bans have been imposed after crashes or after weaknesses have been found. The issues concentrate on the engine, the software program, the reliability and the low stage of operational readiness.
https://www.welt.de/wirtschaft/article251748014/F-35-US-Tarnkappenjet-erneut-unter-raetselhaften-Umstaenden-abgestuerzt.html