F-35 Lightning II News

October 30, 2006 (by Anonymous) - According to Janes news, Six additional countries consider joining the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. Lockheed Martin Executive Vice President and JSF General Manager Tom Burbage said the six nations were "NATO countries or US allies" but would not disclose which countries they were.
Spain, which would be looking at the F-35B short take-off vertical-landing (STOVL) variant to replace the Boeing AV-8B Harrier II Plus aircraft that it is currently operating off the aircraft carrier SPS Principe de Asturias, is certain to be one country.

The Korean Air Force appears to be also considering the F-35 Lightening II as part of its second-phase aircraft procurement project beginning next year. Under a $5.5-billion deal struck in 2002, U.S. aircraft giant Boeing has been delivering 40 F-15Ks to South Korea by the end of 2008 in stages since late last year.

The other five to join the nine partner nations of Australia, Canada, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Turkey, the UK and the US, could include Finland, Greece, Switzerland and potentially Israel.