THE USAF's 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron (TES) began F-35 initial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E) at Edwards Air Force Base, California on December 5. The effort began with a large-force employment mission from the base the same day. Lt Col Nicholas Ihde, 31st TES commander, explained: "This sortie consisted of seven F-35s performing both offensive counter-air, suppression of enemy air defences and air attack operations. This marks an important milestone for the F-35 programme." During the IOT&E phase, 31st TES F-35 pilots will fly more than 30 missions designed to fully evaluate the complete air system as well as identify technical and operational areas for improvement. The Joint Strike Fighter Operational Test Team (JOTT), under the oversight of the independent Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E), will execute formal IOT&E with international partner participation. The 31st TES has ten F-35 pilots, 145 maintainers and 11 engineers assigned to this phase of the Joint Strike Fighter programme and will make use of 23 Block 3F aircraft of different versions.
展开▼
