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F-35 Lightning II News

F-35 Lightning II - unofficially until tomorrow

July 6, 2006 (by Jeff Hollenbeck) - F-35 Lightning II - that's the name of Lockheed's new international fighter jet according to an article in the Dallas Morning News.

Front view of JSF AA-1 sitting in the fuel hangar for the first time. [LMTAS photo]

According to an anonymous source, the U.S. Air Force and Lockheed will officially announce the name tomorrow morning at the new fighter's inauguration. Members of Congress, foreign defense officials, and military leaders will attend the ceremony at Lockheed's Plant 1 in Ft. Worth, Texas to officially introduce the F-35 to the world. United States President George Bush was invited to name the aircraft, but the White House declined the invitation.

AA-1, the first production representative prototype is fresh out of the paint barn, wearing a new scheme including the flags of all member nations participating in the Joint Strike Fighter project. The press has been invited from the world over to photograph the new fighter jet following the ceremony.

Check back with F-16.net often for more updates as they happen.