F-35 News
2012
1 February 2012 | DefenseNews.com
Australia Considers Deferring JSF Buy
Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith flagged the possibility that 12 of the 14 Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighters Australia has committed to purchasing may be deferred, following uncertainty within the international program.
31 January 2012 | DefenseNews.com
Wrongly Installed Ejection Seat Parachutes Ground 15 F-35s
Fifteen F-35 Joint Strike Fighters will remain grounded for at least five more days because their ejection seat parachutes were installed backwards, said Joe DellaVedova, a spokesman for the Joint Strike Fighter Program Office.
27 January 2012 | Defense-Aerospace
Story on British JSF Hesitations Draws MoD, Industry Denials
The Times reports today that the MOD is questioning whether it should go ahead with plans to procure a fleet of new Joint Strike Fighter jets due to speculated delays in the programme. The paper also wrongly claims that the MOD declined to comment, when, in fact, the reporter was sent a statement on...
27 January 2012 | DefenseNews.com
Panetta: Full Commitment to U.S. F-35 Program
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta reiterated his strong support on Jan. 26 for all three variants of the tri-service F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), but said that production needs to be slowed down in order to allow for more testing and account for design changes.
25 January 2012 | USAF News
Air Force leaders say strategy calls for F-22, F-35 capabilities
Fifth-generation fighter aircraft are key to America maintaining domain dominance in the years ahead, Air Force officials said here Jan. 24. Lt. Gen. Christopher D. Miller, the deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and programs, and Maj. Gen. Noel T. "Tom" Jones, the service's director for operation capability requirements, said the technology -- exemplified in the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter -- assumes greater importance in combating growing anti-access, area-denial capabilities.
20 January 2012 | AviationWeek
Panetta Lifts F-35B Probation
'The Stovl variant has made sufficient progress so that as of today I am lifting the Stovl probation.'
18 January 2012 | JSF.mil
F-35A Performs First Night Flight
The first night flight in the history of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Program was completed Wednesday at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif...
17 January 2012 | Defense-Aerospace
UK MoD Responds to F-35C Tailhook Failings
Media are today speculating that the MOD's plans to introduce a new fleet of Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) jets, capable of landing on the latest state-of-the-art Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, could be delayed. The MOD's plans remain on track to have a new carrier strike capability from a...
16 January 2012 | Defense-Aerospace
JSF Flight Tests Highlight New Problems, Concurrency Risks
POGO has obtained the Pentagon's latest annual operational test and evaluation report on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), which was not publicly unavailable until now. Bloomberg News's Tony Capaccio first reported on the report last night. In the first sentence of the report, the Pentagon’s ...
16 January 2012 | Defense-Aerospace
British Press Discovers F-35C Cannot Land on Aircraft Carriers
The Royal Navy's multi-billion pound fighter plane programme is under threat amid claims that its new all-purpose jets cannot land on aircraft carriers, it has emerged. Leaked Pentagon documents claim a design flaw in the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) has caused eight simulated landings to fail. ...
12 January 2012 | Defense-Aerospace
Pentagon to Reset F-35 Program Over Next Month
Top weapons acquisition officials in the Pentagon will meet next week to hold the first of two planned reviews on restructuring the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program and setting new procurement and budget plans, according to a report by InsideDefense.com. The on-line publication says the reviews ...
12 January 2012 | Defense-Aerospace
Concerns Raised in Japan About F-35 Choice
The government has chosen F-35 stealth jets jointly developed by nine countries, including the United States and Britain, as the mainstay fighter for the Air Self-Defense Force. Japan will buy 42 F-35s over the next decade or so for a total 1.6 trillion yen ($20.81 billion), including maintenance...
12 January 2012 | Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin F-35 Program Exceeds 2011 Flight Test Goals
The F-35 System Development and Demonstration 2011 flight test program resulted in the completion of more test flights and test points than in any year. The 2011 flight test plan called for the accumulation of 872 flights and 6,622 test points by Dec. 31. For the year, the SDD program flew 972 flights and tallied 7,823 test points.
11 January 2012 | Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin Delivers First Two Marine Corps F-35s To Eglin
The first two Lockheed Martin production model F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft were delivered to the U.S. Marine Corps today. The two jets are now assigned to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing's Marine Fighter/Attack Training Squadron 501 residing with the host 33d Fighter Wing at Eglin AFB, Fla.
9 January 2012 | Defense-Aerospace
A Closer Look at the F-35’s Tailhook Problems
The U.S. Navy F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) known as the F-35C is at serious risk of never being able to land aboard an aircraft carrier. This also poses a risk to the U.K. aircraft carrier program which is supposed to use the F-35C at the end of the decade. Back in 2007, a Lockheed Martin ...
9 January 2012 | Defense-Aerospace
Australians Fear US Defense Cuts May Increase F-35 Costs
The multibillion-dollar defence cuts in the US announced by President Barack Obama this week mean the cost to Australia of the Joint Strike Fighter will spiral even higher, according to former defence minister Joel Fitzgibbon. The increased cost of the $A16 billion acquisition will be due to the ...
5 January 2012 | DefenseNews.com
Turkey Authorizes Initial Purchase of 2 F-35s
ANKARA - Turkey's top decision-making body Jan. 5 paved the way for the country's formal participation in a U.S.-led program for the production of next-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft.
2011
21 December 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
Japan Picks MHI as Lead F-35 Domestic Contractor
MHI received notification today that it has been selected by Air Staff Office, Japanese Ministry of Defense, as a potential domestic contractor to participate in manufacturing and after-servicing of Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF)'s F-X. ...
19 December 2011 | Lockheed Martin
Japan Selects Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II
FORT WORTH, Texas, December 19th, 2011 -- The Japan Ministry of Defense has announced its selection of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II as the Japan Air Self Defense Force’s (JASDF) next generation fighter aircraft, following the F-X competitive bid process. The F-35A conventional takeoff and landing variant (CTOL) was offered by the United States government with participation from Lockheed Martin. The initial contract will be for four jets in Japan Fiscal Year 2012, which begins April 1, 2012. ...
13 December 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
Japan Likely to Buy US F-35 Fighters
TOKYO --- Japan's government has selected the Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter to bolster its aging air force and is likely to announce the multibillion-dollar deal by the end of the week, news reports said Tuesday. The announcement is expected after a committee meeting Friday, according to K...
12 December 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
F-35 Unit Cost Nears $160M as Lockheed Wins $4Bn for LRIP 5 Lot
Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $4,011,919,310 fixed-price-incentive (firm target) (FPIF) modification to a previously awarded advance acquisition contract (N00019-10-C-0002). This modification provides for the manufacture and delive...
9 December 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
Influential Senators Want Safe Joint Strike Fighter Flight Training
Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta has some explaining to do on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, according to Senators Carl Levin (D-MI) and John McCain (R-AZ), respectively, the chair and ranking member of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee. Both those Senators
9 December 2011 | AviationWeek
Dempsey Sees Potential For JSF Slowdown
The top uniformed U.S. officer says the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter may be on a path to a slowdown.
6 December 2011 | AviationWeek
F-35 Mods Cost-Sharing Deal Struck
The Pentagon and Lockheed Martin have finally agreed to share the cost of modifications for roughly 30 aircraft.
5 December 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
Dutch Worry About New JSF Delays
A possible delay in the first series of the Joint Strike Fighter planes will not necessarily affect the delivery of two Dutch test planes, according to the Dutch Ministry of Defence. The head of the JSF programme said it should be slowed down. Lockheed Martin is due to deliver the first Dutch te...
4 December 2011 | NAVAIR
Photo Release: F-35C test aircraft completes 100th test flight
The first carrier variant test aircraft for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter takes off on its 100th test flight Nov. 29 with Marine Corps test pilot Lt. Col. Matthew Taylor at the controls.
2 December 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
Airframe Problems Mean JSF Production Must Slow, PEO Chief Says
WASHINGTON --- Fatigue testing and analysis are turning up so many potential cracks and "hot spots" in the Joint Strike Fighter's airframe that the production rate of the F-35 should be slowed further over the next few years, the program's head declared in an interview. "The analyzed hot spots th...
2 December 2011 | AviationWeek
GE, Rolls Give Up on F136 JSF Alternate Engine
The move comes after a meeting between GE and Deputy Defense Secretary Carter made any continuation unlikely.
30 November 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
Why Does Norway Budget Thrice as Much As Canada for F-35?
The latest questions in the House of Commons on DND’s F35 purchase are focusing on the differences of costs between Norway’s purchase and Canada’s acquisition of the Joint Strike Fighter. Norway has put the total cost at around $40 billion for 52 aircraft (although the lowest figure sometimes use...
29 November 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
US Navy Sees Future in EMALS Launch of F-35C
LAKEHURST, N.J. --- The Navy demonstrated early integration of the future of naval aviation Nov. 18 when it launched F-35C test aircraft CF-3 with its new electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS). Testing the F-35C on EMALS provided an early opportunity to evaluate technical risks and began...
22 November 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
F-35 Fighter Plane to Be Based at Nevatim
The first F-35 stealth fighter plane is expected to arrive in Israel in 2015. The fighters will be based at the IAF's Nevatim Airbase in the Negev, the IAF commander has determined. The deal to acquire the F-35 was signed in the last year and the planes are expected to arrive in Israel in the next few years. ...
22 November 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
Initial Canadian F-35s Will Lack Link 16, Blue Force Tracker
OTTAWA --- The first dozen or so F-35s slated to arrive in Canada won't be equipped with software that allows the stealth fighters to communicate with ground forces, a feature designed to prevent incidents of friendly fire. The initial operating system also won't be equipped with a program that helps the fighters communicate with older aircraft, such as the Air Force's Aurora surveillance planes. ...
22 November 2011 | MILAVIA News
First F-35 For The United Kingdom Assembled
Lockheed Martin completed assembly of the first international F-35 Lightning II. The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence will use the short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) jet, known as BK-1, for training and operational tests.
18 November 2011 | Flight Global
New cracks stop vertical landings on some F-35Bs
Three of the five developmental Lockheed Martin F-35Bs have developed tiny cracks in a lift fan-related component which prevent the flight-test aircraft from reconfiguring in flight and landing vertically. ...
18 November 2011 | AviationWeek
No Alternative to F-35, US, Canada Say
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said flatly he was confident the U.S. Congress would approve funding for the F-35.
14 November 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
JSF Can Carry JSOW Internally, Raytheon Says
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates --- Raytheon Company has completed a fit check of the Joint Standoff Weapon in the internal carriage bay of the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. "The capabilities of the JSF combined with JSOW C-1's ability to precisely engage moving ships at sea from standoff ranges wou...
8 November 2011 | JSF.mil
F-35C First Catapult Launch at NAS Patuxent River
Navy test pilot Lt. Chris Tabert flies F-35C test aircraft CF-3 off the TC-7 steam catapult at NAS Patuxent River. Photo and video after the jump.
29 October 2011 | AviationWeek
Pentagon Slices F-35 Buy To Pay For Overruns
Navy and Air Force have agreed to reduce their quantities in low-rate initial production Lot 5 to 'pay for the bills.'
28 October 2011 | Key.Aero
First production F-35B flies
BF-06, the first F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) production jet, has flown.
28 October 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
Norway Denies, Canada Confirms, F-35 Comms Problems
In today's edition of Aftenposten, one can get the impression that the F-35 fighter cannot communicate when it flies in the northern areas. “Of course this is not correct. F-35 has exactly the same communication capabilities as the current F-16,” says State Secretary Roger Ingebrigtsen in the Mi...
27 October 2011 | JSF.mil
Sixth F-35A Delivered to Eglin Air Force Base
AF-13, a conventional takeoff and landing variant F-35A, departs Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base on Oct. 26 en route to Eglin Air Force Base.
27 October 2011 | JSF.mil
First Production Model F-35B Makes First Flight
BF-6, the first F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) production jet for the U.S. Marine Corps, made its inaugural flight on Oct. 25, marking yet another significant milestone in the F-35 program.
26 October 2011 | AviationWeek
Navy Sees Few Anomalies in F-35B Ship Trials
First sea trials of the Lockheed Martin F-35B, which is designed for short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing (Stovl) operations for the U.S. Marine Corps.
25 October 2011 | JSF.mil
F-35B Completes First Sea Trials on USS Wasp
The amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) heads back toward homeport Oct. 21 after spending three weeks at sea hosting the initial sea trials of the F-35B Lightning II, Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).
24 October 2011 | JSF.mil
24 Oct - Fifth F-35 Lightning II Bolts to Eglin Air Force Base
With Lt. Col. Eric “Emmitt” Smith at the controls, AF-12 gains altitude as it departs Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base yesterday for Florida.
21 October 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
Doubts, Questions Emerge After F-35B Ship Trials
Last week, on October 13, the Chairman of the JCS, General Martin Dempsey, scared F-35 advocates with the statement, “I am concerned about the three variants, whether as we go forward in this fiscal environment, whether we can afford all three.” This week (after a senior official’s visit on Sat...
17 October 2011 | Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin Delivers First F-35 Weapons Load Training System to Eglin Air Force Base
Lockheed Martin delivered and installed the first weapons load training device at the F-35 integrated pilot-and-maintenance training center (ITC) at Eglin Air Force Base’s 33rd Fighter Wing. Configured in all three variants of the F-35 Lightning II, the system allows maintenance students to hone their skills loading munitions, fuel tanks and missile systems onto the aircraft. ...
11 October 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
Lockheed Selects BAE for F-35 Helmet Display Solution
LONDON, United Kingdom --- BAE Systems has been selected by Lockheed Martin, prime contractor for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), to supply a Night Vision Goggle Helmet Mounted Display (NVG HMD) system for the F-35 during the next phase of its development. The NVG HMD will incorporate the latest...
27 September 2011 | AviationWeek
F-35 Inches Closer To Pilot Training Ops
Air Force officials are reviewing data collected during a period of 'maturity flights' using two F-35As.
20 September 2011 | Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin F-35 Flight Test Progress Report
Lockheed Martin’s F-35 flight test program moves closer to reaching year-end milestones since the last update issued July 26. Since then, the F-35 Lightning II 5TH Generation multirole fighter conducted 124 test flights, bringing the total number of flights for the year to 642. Overall, the F-35 system development and demonstration (SDD) flight test remains on or ahead of plan for 2011, despite 15 days of testing lost due to fleet stand-down after a ground mishap involving the Integrated Power Package (IPP). Flight testing was also interrupted at Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Md., because of an Aug. 23 earthquake and severe weather associated with Hurricane Irene. During this period of down time, the flight test teams at all locations continued working through planned modifications and maintenance. ...
16 September 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
Norway Monitoring F-35 Funding Travails in US
OSLO --- The difficult economic situation in the United States makes this autumn's budget deliberations closely monitored from the Norwegian side. The House of Representatives has recently finalized the budget for 2012 and sent the proposal to the Senate. So far, there have not been any major cuts ...
15 September 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
Canadian Opposition Wants Reality Check on F-35
TORONTO --- Liberal Defence Critic John McKay today questioned the Conservative Government’s silence on the issues being raised by Joint Strike Fighter partners, including the United States, on the development of the F-35 aircraft. “In the wake of mounting cost overruns, production delays and rep...
15 September 2011 | Lockheed Martin
New Titanium Machining Process Supports Affordability Of Lockheed Martin F-35
Lockheed Martin has obtained government approval to use a groundbreaking cryogenic titanium machining process in production of the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter. Cryogenic titanium machining improves cutting-tool life by a factor of 10 with appropriate material removal processing speed. The Joint Program Office in coordination with the F-35 Fracture Control Board (FCB) approved the new process for standard roughing operations, impacting the most time-consuming and cost-intensive machining processes associated with manufacturing titanium parts. Broadly applied, this new technology could improve affordability and efficiency in the production of the F-35, which is approximately 25 percent titanium by weight. ...
14 September 2011 | Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin Delivers First F-35 Center Wing Produced In Marietta
MARIETTA, Ga, September 14th, 2011 -- Lockheed Martin’s first F-35 Lightning II center wing produced here is complete and en route to the F-35 final assembly line in Fort Worth, Texas. ...
8 September 2011 | AviationWeek
U.K. F-35 Work Expected To Remain Stable
'U.K. companies have already won JSF production contracts worth 15% by value of the work on each aircraft.'
31 August 2011 | Lockheed Martin
Lightning Strikes Twice: Two F-35s Arrive at Eglin Air Force Base
FORT WORTH, Texas, Aug. 31, 2011 – Two Lockheed Martin F-35As, AF-10 and AF-11, along with two F-16 chase aircraft, are poised for takeoff to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Wednesday morning. They officially arrived at the base at 1:19 p.m. CDT today. On Friday, the F-35 Joint Program Office authorized a return to flight operations for F-35 production aircraft. AF-10 and AF-11 completed the 90-minute flight marking the ninth and tenth F-35 contractual deliveries of 2011. The pair of conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) jets will be used for training pilots and maintainers at the new F-35 Integrated Training Center there.
30 August 2011 | USAF News
Air Force celebrates JSF arrival, rolls out nation's airpower future
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) -- Air Force officials said the unveiling of the F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter was a "historic occasion" during a rollout ceremony here Aug. 26. The F-35A, on display during the ceremony, was delivered here in July by Lt. Col. Eric Smith, the Air Force's first F-35 pilot.
29 August 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
US Air Force Marks JSF Arrival at Eglin
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - An official unveiling of the F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter was labeled as a “historic occasion” by Air Force officials hosting the ceremony Aug. 26 at the 33rd Fighter Wing. “This is indeed a new era,” said Gen. Edward Rice, Air Education and Training Comm...
27 August 2011 | Key.Aero
F-35A Formally Unveiled at Eglin as all JSFs Cleared to Fly Again
A formal unveiling ceremony was held at Eglin AFB on August 27 for the F-35A Lightning II, two days after remaining flight restrictions were lifted on the F-35 fleet, which had been grounded for over three weeks.
25 August 2011 | AviationWeek
Navy Official Questions Need For JSF Variants
U.S. Navy undersecretary ordered lower-cost alternatives to the Navy's current tactical aviation plan.
19 August 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
F-35s Cleared for Flight But No Fix Yet In Sight
The F-35 Joint Program Office authorized the return to flight operations for F-35 developmental test aircraft. This follows the reinstitution of ground operations for these aircraft Aug. 10. An Air Force Safety Investigation Board continues to review the circumstances that led to the failure of a...
18 August 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
Northrop Delivers 50th Center Fuselage for F-35 JSF
PALMDALE, Calif. --- Northrop Grumman Corporation marked the completion of the 50th center fuselage for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter during a ceremony at the company's Palmdale Manufacturing Center. Company officials praised employees for delivering the center fuselages on time and on budget – a...
12 August 2011 | AviationWeek
South Korea Thinks F-35 Can Meet Schedule
Assessment of ability to meet in-service date of 2016 appears to improve chances of aircraft.
11 August 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
F-35 Cleared to Resume Ground Tests
The F-35 Joint Program Office authorized a return to ground operations for the F-35 developmental test (DT) aircraft today. This is the first step in returning the F-35 fleet to full flight operations. A precautionary suspension of both ground and flight operations for the program was issued Aug. ...
5 August 2011 | AviationWeek
Vagaries Continue To Cloud U.K. F-35 Agenda
In choosing the carrier variant London acted without firmly grasping associated operational and cost implications.
4 August 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
F-35 Fleet Grounded Again After Power System Failure
For the third time in less than a year, the Pentagon has grounded all F-35 Joint Strike Fighters because of a mechanical problem. The 20 operational test and training aircraft were ordered parked Wednesday until engineers and technicians can find why a power system that starts and cools the airc...
4 August 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
British Growing Reticent About F-35, Could Prefer F-18E/F
Officials in Britain's Defence Ministry are pushing to scrap their country's plans to buy a variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, reports from Britain say, potentially raising the cost for other customers such as Australia. Media reports claim officials want the Royal Navy to buy older, less-capab...
3 August 2011 | AviationWeek
JSF Force Grounded
The secondary power system of F-35A AF-4, a USAF-variant test aircraft, failed on Tuesday morning at Edwards AFB, Calif.
28 July 2011 | Key.Aero
Video: F-35 makes first catapult launch
The F-35 has been launched from a test catapult for the first time.
26 July 2011 | Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin F-35 Flight Test Progress Report
FORT WORTH, Texas, July 26th, 2011 -- Lockheed Martin’s [NYSE: LMT] F-35 flight test program moves closer to achieving year-end milestones since the last update issued June 13. The F-35 Lightning II 5TH Generation multirole fighter conducted 107 test flights, bringing the total number of flights for the year to 518. Overall, the F-35 program remains ahead of goals for test flights. Through July 25, the program accomplished 518 flights versus a plan of 476. Read More
22 July 2011 | Flight Global
F-35 ground-based training commences at Eglin AFB
Work has begun at Eglin AFB in Florida to train the first operational pilots and maintainers for the Lockheed Martin F-35A ...
21 July 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
Lockheed Delivers Second F-35 Production Jet In A Week
FORT WORTH, Texas --- It was wheels up Wednesday morning for Lockheed Martin’s second F-35A Lightning II production jet delivery in a week. Maj. Joseph T. “OD” Bachmann (Marine Corps) piloted the aircraft, known as AF-8, to Eglin Air Force Base where it arrived at 11:50 a.m. CDT. AF-8 joins AF-9...
20 July 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
Yet Another Attempt to Save F-35
The U.S. defense budget is in danger of being swamped in a tsunami of debt and deficit reduction plans. Proposals for massive defense cuts are proliferating. There is the Simpson-Bowles Commission, the Paul-Frank proposal and, most recently, the plan put forward by Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn that c...
20 July 2011 | Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin Delivers Second F-35 Production Jet In A Week
FORT WORTH, Texas, July 20th, 2011 -- It was wheels up Wednesday morning for Lockheed Martin’s second F-35A Lightning II production jet delivery in a week. Maj. Joseph T. “OD” Bachmann (Marine Corps) piloted the aircraft, known as AF-8, to Eglin Air Force Base where it arrived at 11:50 a.m. CDT. AF-8 joins AF-9 which Lockheed Martin delivered to the 33rd Fighter Wing last Thursday. The jets will be used for training F-35 pilots and maintainers who are slated to begin course work at the base’s new F-35 Integrated Training Center this fall. AF-8 is the eighth F-35 to be delivered in 2011.
18 July 2011 | Lockheed Martin
Fifth F-35 Marine Corps Variant Delivered To Navy Test Site
FORT WORTH, Texas, July 18th, 2011 -- The fifth Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II Short Take Off/Vertical Landing (STOVL) flight test aircraft delivered to the Marine Corps arrives at Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Md., Saturday, July 16. Lockheed Martin test pilot Bill Gigliotti flew the short takeoff/vertical landing aircraft, designated BF-5, for the 3.5-hour flight from NAS Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base. BF-5 is the seventh F-35 to be delivered in 2011 and the third aircraft delivered to NAS Patuxent River this year. (Lockheed Martin photo by Liz Kaszynski) Media Contact: Read More
15 July 2011 | Flight Global
F-35 LRIP overrun value raised to $1.15B
The F-35 programme office has confirmed the estimated cost overrun for the first 28 production jets is roughly $1.15 billion, and not $771 million as previously...
14 July 2011 | Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin Delivers First F-35 Production Jet For Training To Eglin AFB
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla, July 14th, 2011 -- The first Lockheed Martin production model F-35 Lightning II to be assigned to the 33rd Fighter Wing arrived here today at 1:18 p.m. CDT after its more than 90-minute ferry flight from Fort Worth, Texas. The aircraft, known as AF-9, will be used for activities in concert with training F-35 pilots and maintainers who begin coursework at the base’s new F-35 Integrated Training Center this fall. AF-9 is a conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) version of the 5th generation stealth fighter. Overall, the jet is the third production-model F-35 delivered to the U.S. Air Force, with the first two assigned to Edwards AFB, Calif. Read More
13 July 2011 | AviationWeek
Lockheed Overruns $771 Mln On Early F-35s
'Outrageous! Disgraceful.' the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee said in a tweet.
13 July 2011 | AviationWeek
Second F-35A Joins Edwards Maturity Testing
Maturity flight testing is one of a series of steps for the program prior to entering pilot training this fall.
7 July 2011 | Lockheed Martin
F-35 Jet Blast Deflector Testing Underway at Lakehurst
LAKEHURST, N.J., July 7th, 2011 -- F-35C Lightning II carrier variant aircraft CF-2 is performing Jet Blast Deflector (JBD) tests at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey. The JBD, located behind the catapults aboard aircraft carriers, deflects high energy exhaust from the engine to prevent damage and injury to other aircraft and personnel located in close proximity. JBD testing is one portion of the tests required to ensure the F-35C is compatible aboard the aircraft carrier. Testing continues with varying distances between the aircraft and JBD, and at power settings up to and including maximum afterburner power. CF-2 arrived at Lakehurst on June 25 for JBD tests.
3 June 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
F-35 Program Becoming A Target for Cost Cutters
It’s the Pentagon’s largest acquisitions program — an ambitious effort to re-equip the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps with the latest stealth fighter technology designed to maintain U.S. air superiority over the next 25 years. But the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has already become a target before...
27 May 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
US Air Force Prepares for F-35A Training on F-35B and F-35C
NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. --- U.S. Air Force maintainers are getting hands-on experience with the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter here. Seven airmen from the Air Force’s 33rd Fighter Wing are at Naval Air Station Patuxent River for 75 days to gain first-hand experience...
24 May 2011 | AviationWeek
F-35 Delay Would Mean Higher Dutch F-16 Costs
The reason for the spike in support costs includes additional maintenance for the aircraft structure.
23 May 2011 | Key.Aero
F-35 makes its airshow debut
Lockheed Martin's publicity-shy F-35 Joint Strike Fighter made its airshow debut on May 21.
20 May 2011 | AviationWeek
Senators Ask For JSF Alternatives
'It seems to me [prudent that] we at least begin considering alternatives,' Sen. John McCain said.
20 May 2011 | AviationWeek
Pace Of JSF Testing Gains Momentum
Last year passed with slow flight trials, especially for the USMC version. But now the project seems to be stabilizing.
17 May 2011 | Lockheed Martin
Second F-35C Carrier Variant Flies to NAS Patuxent River
FORT WORTH, Texas, May 17th, 2011 -- The second F-35C Lightning II carrier variant arrives at Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Md., yesterday. The flight test aircraft, designated CF-2, was piloted by Lt. Col. Matt Taylor during the 2.8-hour flight from NAS Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base. CF-2 now joins one other carrier variant (CV) and four short take off/vertical landing (STOVL) F-35 aircraft at NAS Patuxent River where it will continue flight testing. Media Contacts: Read More
16 May 2011 | Lockheed Martin
Second F-35A Production Jet Arrives at Edwards AFB
FORT WORTH, Texas, May 16th, 2011 -- The second Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II production aircraft flies above the compass rose of Rogers Dry Lakebed at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., May 13. The aircraft, designated AF-6, ferried to Edwards AFB from Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base following the Air Force formally accepting the fighter into its inventory May 12. The first production jet, AF-7, was delivered to Edwards AFB May 6. Media Contacts: Read More
13 May 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
Lockheed, Pentagon Vow to Attack F-35 Costs
FORT WORTH, Texas --- Lockheed Martin Corp says it is attacking costs on every aspect of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, but the real key to making the new warplane more affordable is to speed up production.
13 May 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
FAS Discloses Selected Acquisition Report on F-35
The latest annual report to Congress on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program details the soaring costs and deferred production schedule associated with the program. The report, which has not been publicly released, outlines total program costs from last year as well as per-aircraft costs and p...
13 May 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
RAAF Should Have “Plan B” for Fighter Fleet
Australia needs a Plan B and even a Plan C to maintain air combat supremacy in the event of further delays in the new Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), a new study says. Plan B, the "least bad" option, would involve extending the life of existing RAAF Hornet aircraft past 2020 while Plan C would involve...
12 May 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
Australia Admits JSF Will Be Late, More Expensive
For the first time in an official, public document, the government has admitted the revolutionary Joint Strike Fighters intended to provide Australia's main air defence long into this century are likely to arrive later than planned and cost much more than expected.
11 May 2011 | Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin F-35 Program Flight Test Update
Since the last F-35 flight test program update issued March 31, Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft have conducted 125 test flights, bringing the total number of flights for the year to 331. Several flight test key milestones were accomplished since the last report:
10 May 2011 | Lockheed Martin
First F-35A Destined for Eglin AFB, Fla., Completes First Flight
The first F-35A production aircraft that will be delivered to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., later this year takes off from Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base on Friday, May 6, with Lockheed Martin test pilot Bill Gigliotti at the controls. The aircraft, designated AF-8, will be delivered to Eglin for pilot and maintainer training. AF-8 is the first aircraft to fly from Low Rate Initial Production lot two.
9 May 2011 | Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin Delivers First Usaf Production F-35 Lightning II
FORT WORTH, Texas, May 9th, 2011 -- The U.S. Air Force has accepted into its fleet the first of a planned 1,763 production-model Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters. The signing of formal acceptance documents for the jet, known as AF-7, took place at Lockheed Martin’s F-35 final assembly plant in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, May 5. The jet flew to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on Friday to begin its flight testing program.
3 May 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
Second F-35C Makes First Flight
FORT WORTH, Texas --- The second F-35C Lightning II carrier variant takes off on its first flight from Naval Air Station (NAS) Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base Friday, April 29. Lockheed Martin F-35 Test Pilot Bill Gigliotti piloted the jet on its first flight. The supersonic F-35C, known as CF-2, ...
2 May 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
Norway Confirms F-35 Deliveries by 2018
“Progress on the combat aircraft program and the further development of industrial cooperation played a key role in the talks we had with Lockheed Martin this week,” says State Secretary Roger Ingebrigtsen. The U.S. delegation was led by Lockheed Martin’s CEO of the F-35 program, Tom Burbage. Lo...
2 May 2011 | Lockheed Martin
Second F-35C Completes Inaugural Flight
FORT WORTH, Texas, May 2nd, 2011 -- The second F-35C Lightning II carrier variant takes off on its first flight from Naval Air Station (NAS) Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base Friday, April 29. Lockheed Martin F-35 Test Pilot Bill Gigliotti piloted the jet on its first flight. The supersonic F-35C, known as CF-2, is scheduled to fly to NAS Patuxent River, Md., later this year, where it will join the first F-35C and four F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing jets to continue flight testing. (Lockheed Martin Photo by Randy Crites) Read More
27 April 2011 | Flight Global
New engine snag upsets F-35 manfacturing progress
A new quality issue with Pratt & Whitney F135 engines has upset a manufacturing system for the Lockheed Martin F-35 that is otherwise showing signs of reaching...
26 April 2011 | Key.Aero
F-35 Alternative Engine axed
The US Department of Defense has notified the General Electric/Rolls Royce Team and Congress that the F136 engine contract has been terminated.
26 April 2011 | AviationWeek
GE/Rolls To Fight Termination Of F136 Engine
The termination notice follows a 'stop-work' order issued on March 24 by Pentagon acquisition chief Ashton Carter.
22 April 2011 | AviationWeek
JSF Chief Hopes For Smoother LRIP V Talks
'Doing it faster is important,' Venlet said. Government officials are conducting a 'should-cost' review.
12 April 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
Should US Taxpayers Subsidize F-35 Exports?
In December, I was invited by the Standing Committee on National Defence of the Canadian House of Commons to testify on the proposed sale of the F-35 to Canada. The F-35 sale to Canada is a controversy in the upcoming elections there; the price the Canadian government asserts it will pay for eac...
11 April 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
Norway to Buy Four F-35s This Year; Says Price Unchanged
The Government has decided to submit to Parliament proposals for the procurement of four F-35 training aircraft. The cost outlook for Norway's total procurement of F-35 fighter jets is little changed. The acquisition of the four trainers is in line with the government's earlier decision and with...
9 April 2011 | AviationWeek
Norway To Buy First Four F-35s
Parliament has proposed an initial buy of four which would arrive about two years ahead of the broader introduction.
6 April 2011 | Lockheed Martin
F-35C CF-1 Catapult Hookup
PATUXENT RIVER, Md., April 6th, 2011 -- Navy F-35 flight test aircraft CF-1 approaches the TC-7 catapult at Naval Air Station Patuxent River March 22. With U.S. Marine Corps test pilot Lt. Col. Matt "Opie" Taylor at the controls, CF-1 completed functional checks and performed the first test hookup of the F-35C to the catapult. The test team also investigated an issue discovered during a preliminary fit check with the launch bar where it did not lower far enough to engage flight deck hardware for the catapult hook up. That test resulted in an improvement made to the launch bar so it will have a greater range of motion. The overall ship compatibility test phase, including catapult launches, is scheduled to begin this year. Shipboard testing of the F-35C aboard a CVN-68 class aircraft carrier is scheduled to take place in 2013. The F-35C Navy variant and F-35B Marine Corps variant are undergoing test and evaluation at NAS Patuxent River in preparation for eventual delivery to the fleet. Media Contact: Read More
4 April 2011 | Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin F-35 Flight Test Program Shows Progress In First Quarter
FORT WORTH, Texas, April 4th, 2011 -- Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II test jets made considerable flight test progress during the first quarter of 2011, conducting 199 test flights versus a plan of 142 flights. Additionally, the F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) variant logged six times more vertical landings in the first quarter than in all of 2010. The test program remained ahead of plan despite the grounding of various test fleet aircraft for 4-15 days during the period as officials investigated the cause of a dual generator/starter failure during a flight on March 9. The following totals and highlights provide a snapshot of flight test activity in the first quarter: Conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL: F-35A) aircraft conducted 82 flights against the plan of 62. STOVL (F-35B) aircraft conducted 101 flights against a plan of 62. Carrier variant aircraft accomplished 16 flights of 18 planned. Two production-model aircraft, AF-6 and AF-7, flew for the first time in preparation for delivery to the U.S. Air Force this year. AF-6 and AF-7 flew seven times in the first quarter. Â The STOVL variant performed 61 vertical landings (compared with 10 vertical landings in all of 2010). BF-1 performed the first touch-and-go maneuver in VL mode this quarter. From the start of flight testing in December 2006 through March 31, 2011, F-35s have flown 753 times, including production-model flights.
24 March 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
Turkey Freezes F-35 Order Over Access to Source Codes
Turkey has announced that it is putting the planned purchase of 100 F-35 fighter jets from the US on hold because the Pentagon refuses to share the source code used in the software designed for the aircraft as well as the codes that might be used externally to activate the planes.
24 March 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
Dutch Auditor Wants â€Timely and Full’ F-35 Cost Data
The government has postponed a decision on the procurement of a replacement for the F-16. A final decision has not yet been taken in favour of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). Preparations need to be made, however, for the arrival of the JSF. The Ministry of Defence believes the Joint Strike Fighter ...
24 March 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
Canadian Auditor Stands By F-35 Cost Estimate
OTTAWA, Canada --- The Parliament of Canada Act mandates the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) to provide independent analysis to the Senate and House of Commons on the state of the nation’s finances, government estimates and trends in the national economy.
23 March 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
Australia Won’t Review F-35 Plans Despite Cost Increases
The Defence Department will not review plans to spend more than $20 billion on 72 F-35 stealth fighters despite American program cost blow-outs that are threatening to bring down Canada's minority conservative Government. It is now believed the final cost of the multinational F-35 program will be...
23 March 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
Turkey’s TAI Delivers First Production F-35 Inlet
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. --- Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. (TAI), a major international F-35 Lightning II supplier to Northrop Grumman Corporation, has delivered its first production air inlet duct for the jet. The delivery of the all-composite duct, a major structural element of the F-35's center...
12 March 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
F-35 Test Aircraft Grounded After Dual Generator Failures, Oil Leak
The Pentagon's Joint Strike Fighter program office has suspended test flights of the next generation combat aircraft after a test aircraft suffered an in-flight failure of dual electrical generators. In a just issued press release, Lockheed Martin said aircraft AF-4, one of four F-35A models fly...
10 March 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
UK to Spend $632M on F-35Bs It No Longer Needs
The [British] Ministry of Defence is spending almost £400million on three fighter jets that will never enter British service. Britain is paying £389m to buy the F-35B jump jets even though last year’s defence review ruled that the Armed Forces did not need vertical take-off and landing fighters. ...
10 March 2011 | AviationWeek
Canada Expects Much Higher JSF Unit Costs
Canada's Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer is estimating a per-unit price tag of about $450 million.
7 March 2011 | Lockheed Martin
Second F-35 Production Jet Takes First Flight
FORT WORTH, Texas, March 7th, 2011 -- AF-7, the second F-35 Lightning II production jet, takes off on its first flight Friday, March 4, from Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base. The F-35A conventional takeoff and landing variant flew for 1.3 hours. AF-7 is the second and final aircraft from Low Rate Initial Production lot 1. The first, AF-6, flew for the first time a week earlier. The two production jets and eleven preproduction F-35 test aircraft have completed 683 flights since testing began in December 2006.
7 March 2011 | MILAVIA News
F-35C breaks sound barrier for the first time
The first F-35C test aircraft (CF-1) flew faster than the speed of sound for the first time over a test range near the Navy and Marine Corps F-35 integrated test facility at Naval Air Station Patuxent River March 4, 2011.
25 February 2011 | MILAVIA News
Lockheed Martin Flies First Production F-35 Stealth Fighter
The first production model of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II made its first flight today at Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas. The jet will head to Edwards Air Force Base, California., to support developmental testing shortly after the Air Force takes delivery this spring.
7 January 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
Norway Unsure of JSF Review Implications
The Ministry of Defence today received preliminary information on decisions taken in the U.S. in the wake of the announced review of the Joint Strike Fighter combat aircraft project.
7 January 2011 | Defense-Aerospace
Australia Welcomes JSF Restructure
The Acting Minister for Defence Jason Clare today welcomed the restructure of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program by US Defense Secretary Robert Gates. The restructure follows a detailed six month Technical Baseline Review of the JSF Program’s progress by the US Department of Defense to examine...
6 January 2011 | Flight Global
F-35 enters 2011 on high note, but still dogged by future uncertainty
Lockheed Martin's 11th F-35 flight-test aircraft should begin taxi trials next week, as the programme awaits on the outcome of a new review ...
2010
31 December 2010 | Lockheed Martin
Tenth F-35 Enters Flight Test
FORT WORTH, Texas, December 31st, 2010 -- AF-4, the tenth F-35 Lightning II to enter flight testing, lifts into the sky for the first time on Dec. 30. The successful flight was the final test mission of 2010 for the Joint Strike Fighter program, which logged 410 flights for the year versus a plan of 394.
9 December 2010 | AviationWeek
First Stovl Engine Shipped For F-35B
Pratt and Rolls have shipped the first Stovl system to Lockheed Martin for installation in the F-35B.
23 November 2010 | CNN
Closed-door Defense meeting reviews costly F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
The Defense Department reviewed its most expensive weapon Monday, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
22 October 2010 | AviationWeek
JSF Engine Contenders Pass Test Milestones
GE-Rolls is revising static and rotating parts in the fan module following test incident.
8 October 2010 | Flight Global
Lockheed gets funds for UK F-35 landing modification
Lockheed has received a $13 million contract to incorporate a shipborne rolling vertical landing capability with the UK's F-35Bs ...
8 October 2010 | Defense-Aerospace
Israel Signs LOA for F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
Following the Israeli Government decision to select the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II as the Israel Air Force's next-generation fighter aircraft, Israeli Ministry of Defense Director General (Maj. Gen. Ret.) Udi Shani signed the Letter of Offer and Acceptance for the procurement of the F-35...
8 October 2010 | Defense-Aerospace
Canadian JSF Controversy Heats Up
Confronted by an insider warning against the sole-sourced purchase of a fighter jet dubbed the Flying Credit Card, a furious Stephen Harper on Thursday chose to attack the whistle-blower — and warn against massive aerospace job losses if opponents continue “playing politics” with the lives of Canadian troops.
7 October 2010 | Flight Global
F-35s resume flight operations, but problems persist
A software glitch grounded the Lockheed Martin F-35 test fleet for at least four days and the short take-off and vertical landing mode remains barred due to an unresolved mechanical problem.
7 October 2010 | Lockheed Martin
Israeli Ministry Of Defense Selects Lockheed Martin F-35 For Its Next-Generation Fighter
Following the Israeli Government decision to select the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II as the Israel Air Force’s next-generation fighter aircraft, Israeli Ministry of Defense Director General (Maj. Gen. Ret.) Udi Shani signed the Letter of Offer and Acceptance for the procurement of the F-35 aircraft earlier today in New York. Israel will be the first country to receive the F-35 through the United States government’s Foreign Military Sales process...
1 October 2010 | Defense-Aerospace
Dutch Coalition Agreement Confirms JSF, Cuts Numbers
The tentative coalition agreement approved by Dutch political parties after over three months of negotiations is set out in a 46 page document which outlines their proposed policies for the next four years. Regarding the replacement of F-16 fighters, the text simply states that “F16s have to be ...
1 October 2010 | AviationWeek
F-35 Flights Suspended
The Pentagon says all flights were suspended earlier this week as a routine safety precaution.
30 September 2010 | Defense-Aerospace
Norway Delays F-35 Order by Two Years
The new combat aircraft for the Air Force is two years overdue. The delivery of the US-built F-35 will therefore not start until 2018. Today's F-16 aircraft have will benefit from life extension, and the choice of a new fighter base will also be postponed. In an article published by [the Stava...
30 September 2010 | AviationWeek
Marines Ready, But Is JSF?
The Marines insist they will achieve IOC, with eight ship-qualified aircraft and 20 pilots, by late 2012.
29 September 2010 | Key.Aero
Norway delays F-35 purchase
The proposed purchase of F-35A Lightning IIs for Norway is to be "adjusted".
13 September 2010 | Key.Aero
Canada announces F-35 basing plan
The Canadian Minister of National Defence has announced where the F-35 will be based.
2 September 2010 | Key.Aero
F-35B reliability worries
The reliability of Lockheed Martin's F-35B is causing concern.
17 August 2010 | Defense-Aerospace
JSF’s Targeting System Tested in Flight
Lockheed Martin has successfully conducted the first flight of the F-35 Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) on the Cooperative Avionics Test Bed (CATBird) platform. EOTS maturation on the CATBird is the final step prior to integration on the BF-4, the first mission systems-equ...
16 August 2010 | Flight Global
Fix for F-35 final assembly problem pushed back
Lockheed Martin has pushed back the resolution of a manufacturing problem plaguing F-35 Joint Strike Fighter final assembly schedules, but key suppliers...
16 August 2010 | Flight Global
Israel: no plans to upgrade F-16s
The Israeli defence ministry has decided, pending formal government approval, to purchase an initial 20 Lockheed Martin F-35 fighters. The $2.75 billion...
16 August 2010 | Lockheed Martin
First Flight of F-35 Electro-Optical Targeting System
Lockheed Martin has successfully conducted the first flight of the F-35 Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) on the Cooperative Avionics Test Bed (CATBird) platform. EOTS maturation on the CATBird is the final step prior to integration on the BF-4, the first mission systems-equipped F-35 test aircraft. “The CATBird’s dynamic flight environment provides the first opportunity to test and evaluate how EOTS integrates into the F-35’s fused sensor architecture,” said Rich Hinkle, program director of F-35 EOTS at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “After three years of rigorous testing on the Sabreliner aircraft, EOTS is more than ready for CATBird integration and we’re excited to reach this important milestone.”
16 August 2010 | AviationWeek
Alternate JSF Engine Thrust Beats Target
The tests are the first to officially calibrate the combat-rated thrust of a production-representative F136.
12 August 2010 | RAF
RAF test pilot on Lightning II
The radical F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter is set to become the future of air combat according to the RAF test pilot putting the groundbreaking aircraft through its paces.
29 July 2010 | Key.Aero
US Air Force announces F-35 basing proposal
The USAF has confirmed F-35As will be based at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.
29 July 2010 | USAF
Air Force Announces F-35 Basing Proposal
The Department of the Air Force announced today the preferred alternatives for operational and training F-35 Joint Strike Fighter bases. Teams surveyed each candidate base for feasibility, timing, cost and planning purposes to meet initial operational capability timelines. The preferred alternative locations are: - Operations - Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and Burlington Air Guard Station, Vt. - Training - Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. more...
22 July 2010 | Key.Aero
Canada commits to F-35
The Government of Canada has confirmed that it is to acquire the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
8 July 2010 | Key.Aero
First missions-systems equipped F-35A flies
The ninth F-35 Lightning II aircraft has entered flight testing.
7 July 2010 | Key.Aero
More F-35s ordered
The US Government has awarded Lockheed Martin a contract for 42 F-35s.
24 June 2010 | Defense-Aerospace
Pratt Marks Milestones for JSF’s F135 Engine
The Pratt & Whitney F135 propulsion system celebrated two major program milestones recently, with the successful maiden flight of the Lockheed Martin Navy variant F-35C Lightning II, powered by a production configuration F135 engine, as well as installation of the first prod...
23 June 2010 | Key.Aero
Radar tests begin on F-35
Northrop Grumman has tested its APG-81 AESA radar on the F-35.
23 June 2010 | Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin F-35 Navy Jet Confirms Carrier-Landing Strength Predictions
FORT WORTH, Texas, June 23rd, 2010 -- A Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II carrier variant successfully completed testing in which it was dropped from heights of more than 11 feet during a series of simulated aircraft-carrier landings. The tests validated predictions and will help confirm the F-35C's structural integrity for carrier operations. The jet, a ground-test article known as CG-1, underwent drop testing at Vought Aircraft Industries in Grand Prairie, Texas. No load exceedances or structural issues were found at any of the drop conditions, and all drops were conducted at the maximum carrier landing weight. The drop conditions included sink rates, or rates of descent, up to the maximum design value of 26.4 feet per second, as well as various angles and weight distributions. The tests were used to mimic the wide range of landing conditions expected in the fleet.
14 June 2010 | Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin F-35 STOVL Variant Flies Supersonic
PATUXENT RIVER, Md., June 14th, 2010 -- The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35 Joint Strike Fighter short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) variant flew faster than the speed of sound for the first time June 10, achieving a significant milestone. The aircraft accelerated to Mach 1.07 (727 miles per hour) on the first in a long series of planned supersonic flights. "For the first time in military aviation history, supersonic, radar-evading stealth comes with short takeoff/vertical landing capability," said Bob Price, Lockheed Martin's F-35 U.S. Marine Corps program manager. "The supersonic F-35B can deploy from small ships and austere bases near front-line combat zones, greatly enhancing combat air support with higher sortie-generation rates." The F-35B will enter service for the Marines, the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, and the Italian Air Force and Navy. Read More
9 June 2010 | Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin F-35 Ground-Test Article Completes Testing Five Months Ahead Of Schedule
FORT WORTH, Texas, June 9th, 2010 -- The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II program successfully completed F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) full-scale static testing – with zero structural failures – five months ahead of schedule and in less than half the time of legacy programs. The test program was conducted on AG-1, an F-35A dedicated to validating the strength of the jet's airframe.
7 June 2010 | Lockheed Martin
First Lockheed Martin F-35 With Mission Systems Arrives At Navy Test Site
The first mission systems-equipped Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II test jet joined the fleet at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., today. Piloted by F-35 Test Pilot Dave "Doc" Nelson, the short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) F-35B known as BF-4 became the fourth F-35 to arrive and begin testing at the Naval Air Systems Command site. The STOVL variant will be employed by the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.K. Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, and the Italian Air Force and Navy.
7 June 2010 | Lockheed Martin
U.S. Navy Version of Lockheed Martin F-35 Makes First Flight
The most advanced aircraft in the history of the United States Navy made its inaugural flight yesterday, assuring a future of long-range, first-day-of-the-war stealth striking capability from the Navy's big-deck carriers. The first Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II carrier variant took off from Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base at 11:46 a.m. and logged a 57 min flight. “I am thrilled the F-35C has attained this milestone,” said Vice Adm. Thomas J. Kilcline, Commander of Naval Air Forces. “This flight marks the beginning of a new chapter in Naval Aviation. The mission systems in this aircraft will provide the Carrier Strike Group Commander with an unprecedented ability to counter a broad spectrum of threats and win in operational scenarios that our legacy aircraft cannot address.
7 June 2010 | ACC
New tech-advanced classroom awaits F-35 students
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) -- A foundation for how the first generation of F-35 Lightning II pilots and maintainers trains for the next half century continues to evolve here as 33rd Fighter Wing officials add state-of-the-art technology to the classroom arsenal.
7 June 2010 | AviationWeek
Flight Tests Of Next F-35 Block Underway
Mission-system test aircraft has returned to flight, CATBird has begun flying with latest Block 1 software.
4 June 2010 | Defense-Aerospace
New Tech-Advanced Classroom for F-35 Students
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --- A foundation for how the first generation of F-35 Lightning II pilots and maintainers trains for the next half century continues to evolve here as 33rd Fighter Wing officials add state-of-the-art technology to the classroom arsenal.
3 June 2010 | AviationWeek
Pentagon Recertifies JSF, Cost Increases
Officials anticipated the per-unit cost to be $112 million; it is now expected to be $155.6 million.
2 June 2010 | Defense-Aerospace
F-35 Review: Best Intentions Often Backfire
The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has survived a Nunn-McCurdy review required of all weapons systems that exceed so-called "critical" thresholds for cost increases. Defense acquisition czar Ashton Carter will tell Congress this week that the program is essential to national security, is grounded in cred...
1 June 2010 | Flight Global
Israeli industry reveals JSF weapons work
Israeli defence companies are developing new weapon systems that will be carried by the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters operated by the nation's air force.
1 June 2010 | Defense-Aerospace
GE Launches All-Out Effort to Save F-136 Engine
General Electric Co. is mounting an all-out effort to get its supporters in Congress to defy Defense Secretary Robert Gates when the House of Representatives votes on the $567 billion defense bill for fiscal 2011. GE wants Congress to keep funding its backup engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fight...
1 June 2010 | AviationWeek
Lockheed Wary Of F-35 Engine Battle Impact
Battle between GE, Pratt & Whitney is likely to continue until Congress finalizes the Fiscal 2011 defense budget.
22 May 2010 | AviationWeek
Prolonged Uncertainty Likely For Dutch On JSF
The purchase has been politically contentious for some time, with left-leaning parties trying to quash the deal.
17 May 2010 | Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin F-35 Fighters Arrive Together At Edwards AFB
Two Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters flew nonstop from their final-assembly site in Fort Worth, Texas, to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., today, signaling a further expansion of F-35 flight test operations. The arrival is the first in a series that will increase the Edwards F-35 test fleet to at least eight aircraft. U.S. Air Force Test Pilot Lt. Col. Hank "Hog" Griffiths and Lockheed Martin F-35Â Chief Test Pilot Jon Beesley flew the jets, known as AF-1 and AF-2, nonstop in the first multi-ship, long-range F-35 flight.
1 May 2010 | AviationWeek
USAF, Lockheed Wrangle Over JSF LRIP 4 Price
Lockheed Martin is battling the perception of a major cost spike while trying to keep the price as high as possible
30 April 2010 | Defense-Aerospace
Joint EW Squadron Stands Up for F-35 Training
EGLIN AFB, Fla. --- The squadron serving as the sole Department of Defence provider of electronic warfare support for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter activated April 23 in a ceremony at Eglin AFB. Surrounded by artifacts from the history of airpower in the Air Armament Museum, the 513th Electronic ...
27 April 2010 | Flight Global
Israeli JSF talks end with stalemate
Two recent rounds of US/Israeli talks about the sale of Lockheed Martin F-35s to the Israeli air force have ended with the same gap that has so far prevented...
20 April 2010 | Lockheed Martin
New Lockheed Martin F-35A Will Test Weapons
FORT WORTH, Texas, April 20th, 2010 -- The seventh Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II flight test aircraft took to the skies for the first time today, with the overall objective of validating the F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant's weapons suite. The jet, known as AF-2 and piloted by Lockheed Martin F-35 Test Pilot Jeff Knowles, took off at 5:57 p.m. CDT from Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base and flew for 1 hour.
13 April 2010 | Lockheed Martin
F-35 AF-1 Completes Final Finishes, Scheduled to Return to Flight
FORT WORTH, Texas, April 13th, 2010 -- AF-1, the first optimized Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II conventional takeoff and landing test plane, rolls out of the F-35 Final Finishes Facility sporting a new hand-painted fin flash on its vertical stabilizers. While at the facility, the plane also received highly accurate robot-applied coatings. The stealth jet flew twice before entering an intensive period of ground testing, and is preparing for its return to flight and ferry to the Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. test site.
12 April 2010 | Defense-Aerospace
More F-35 Cost Growth to Come
This week some Pentagon officials morphed into street cleaners as the Defense Department's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter left yet another load of unpleasantness on the street for all to see. It came in the form of major new revelations from Jason Sherman at InsideDefense.com with an article titled "DOD ...
9 April 2010 | Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin's F-35C Lightning II Carrier Variant Undergoes Drop Testing
Dallas, Texas, April 9th, 2010 -- Lockheed Martin's F-35C Lightning II carrier variant ground-test article, CG-1, undergoes drop testing at Vought Aircraft in Dallas – one of 53 tests planned for CG-1 at Vought. On March 27,CG-1,was dropped 95 inches at 20 feet per second, with an 8.8-degree pitch, 2-degree roll, and 133-knot wheel speed, simulating a carrier-deck landing. During the testing, 500 sensors are monitored, with 2,500 points collected per second. The F-35C will be the Navy's first stealth fighter. In addition to ground testing, flight test continues, with more than 170 test flights logged. During the first quarter of 2010, the three F-35B test aircraft at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., outperformed flight test requirements, completing 33 flights compared to the 29 required. Twenty-eight of the flights took place at Patuxent River, with the remaining five conducted from Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth plant.
8 April 2010 | Flight Global
Lockheed rejects Pentagon's cost estimates for F-35
Lockheed Martin has reached a key F-35 Joint Strike Fighter first flight milestone - and struck back at Department of Defense budget estimates warning that...
8 April 2010 | Defense-Aerospace
F-35 Program Cost Set to Rise by Another $40-$50 Billion, DoD Warns
Defense Department officials have told Congress that the already ballooning costs of the F-35 joint strike fighter are likely to soar much higher when new estimates are completed in the summer. In the Selected Acquisition Report for the F-35, a detailed document sent to Congress on Thursday, the...
7 April 2010 | Lockheed Martin
First Lockheed Martin Mission Systems F-35 Enters Flight Test
Fort Worth, Texas, April 7th, 2010 -- The first mission systems-equipped Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter flew for the first time today, ushering in what will be the most powerful and comprehensive sensor package ever to fly in a fighter. During the flight, F-35 Test Pilot David Nelson climbed to 15,500 feet (4,700 meters), verified engine response at varying throttle settings, performed a series of flight-qualities maneuvers and checked the operation of the aircraft’s mission systems. The flight out of Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth plant began at 10:04 a.m. CDT and concluded at 10:59 a.m.
6 April 2010 | Key.Aero
First F-35 unit forms
The first active-duty F-35 squadron has stood-up in the US.
31 March 2010 | Defense-Aerospace
F-35 Unit Cost Seen Exceeding $200M
In two hearings in the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, Under Secretary for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Ashton Carter and his Director for Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation Christine Fox presented new unit cost estimates for the F-35. Those estimates are extremely optimisti...
31 March 2010 | RAF
CINC Air signs first F-35 for UK
Commander-in-Chief Air Command (CINC Air), Air Chief Marshal Sir Chris Moran, has just returned from a visit to the USA during which he highlighted the relevance of the RAF’s next generation combat aircraft..
30 March 2010 | Key.Aero
F-35 breaches 'Nunn-McCurdy'
The Pentagon has officially notified US Congress of the F-35 programme's breach of cost limits.
26 March 2010 | Key.Aero
Romania confirms interest in F-35
Romania may go for F-35.
19 March 2010 | Key.Aero
Video: F-35B makes first vertical landing
Lockheed Martin's F-35B Joint Strike Fighter has made is first controlled vertical landing.
19 March 2010 | Key.Aero
USMC to activate Joint Strike Fighter training squadron
The US Marine Corps is to form its F-35B Joint Strike Fighter training unit on April 1.
19 March 2010 | Flight Global
F-35 cost estimate grows up to nearly 90%
The US Department of Defense today confirmed the cost estimate for F-35 Joint Strike Fighter procurement has leaped between 57% and 89% since contract award...
19 March 2010 | AviationWeek
F136 Reaches Full Thrust In Afterburner Test
Sustained full-power afterburner tests incorporated the common exhaust system now flying on the F135-powered F-35 JSF
18 March 2010 | Key.Aero
Video: F-35B in the hover
Lockheed Martin has released a new video of the F-35B in the hover.
15 March 2010 | Key.Aero
Denmark closer to F-35 decision
The Danish government is getting closer to a decision to drop the F-35.
12 March 2010 | Key.Aero
Video: F-35 gets near to vertical landing
Lockheed Martin has released a video showing the F-35B making its slowest landing yet.
12 March 2010 | CNN
Pentagon's future fighter aircraft doubles in cost
The cost of the Pentagon's newest fighter jet will be more than double the original price, solidifying the F-35 joint strike fighter as the most expensive Pentagon weapons program ever.
11 March 2010 | Lockheed Martin
F-35B STOVL-mode Flight
NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md, March 11th, 2010 -- The first Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter passes overhead at 40 knots (46 mph) prior to a slow landing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., on Wednesday, March 10. The flight was one of the last missions before the aircraft's first vertical landing, and confirmed the jet's power and controllability at very low speeds. The aircraft's short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) propulsion system generates more than 41,000 pounds of vertical thrust, and enables airspeeds from zero to Mach 1.6. The F-35B will be flown by the United States Marine Corps, the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, and the Italian Air Force and Navy. It will be capable of operating from small ships and austere bases near front-line combat zones. F-35 Lead STOVL Pilot Graham Tomlinson was at the controls for Wednesday's flight.
2009
29 October 2009 | USAF
Air Force officials announce candidate bases for joint strike fighter
Air Force officials here announced the list of candidate locations Oct. 29 for basing the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter.
The list of candidate bases was approved by the secretary and chief of staff of the Air Force and identifies the first group of bases to be considered for joint strike fighter basing decisions. The selection of these bases signifies the determination of Air Force officials that these locations have the greatest potential to accommodate the F-35 training or operational mission.
more...
2008
21 November 2008 | MILAVIA News
Norway selected F-35 to replace F-16s
On November 21st, 2008, the Norwegian government announced that its Minister of Defence had selected the F-35 Lightning II to replace its fleet of F-16 fighters.
Back to Index
