The US will allow F-35A fighters to fly in thunderstorms due to the updated fuel system
American F-35A Lightning II fighters will be able to fly in thunderstorms. The updated fuel system will protect the aircraft from ignition when struck by lightning. This will allow flights to resume in adverse weather conditions, reports The Drive.
The F-35A will receive a fuel system with a modified Inert gas Generation system Onboard Inert Gas Generation System (OBIGGS). The system fills the void in the fuel tanks with gas, which reduces the concentration of flammable compounds. This reduces the risk of an explosion after a lightning strike.
The first F-35A will receive an updated fuel system in July. The publication notes that the manufacturer installs the upgraded OBIGGS system on the new F-35A from November 2020. Also, the system must be installed on combat aircraft.
In 2020, the F-35 Joint Programs Office banned pilots from flying within 25 nautical miles of a thunderstorm. The restriction will be in effect until 2025. It is expected that by this time the aircraft will receive an updated fuel system. Also in 2022, the updated aircraft software will allow the F-35 to inform the pilot about OBIGGS malfunctions.
The Drive notes that until January 25, the American units that operate the F-35 reported 15 lightning strikes. The cost of aircraft repairs ranged from 25 to 570 thousand dollars.
In January, the United States was told about the risk of data leakage from the F-35 to China. If the planes are delivered to the UAE, Beijing will be able to intercept data on the operation of the aircraft using 5G telecommunications equipment.
