News

Turkey has approved a production agreement for the U.S.-led multinational effort to develop the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, following the lead of the Netherlands, Canada, Britain and Australia.

The first Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II successfully completed all ground taxi tests today, among some of the last activities clearing the way for its inaugural flight.

Following the Netherlands, Britain, Australia, and Canada have now also signed an agreement committing to the next development and production phase of the U.S.-led F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) project.

The F-35 Lightning II moved under its own power for the first time on Thursday afternoon, initiating the last series of tests before the fighter jet's first flight.

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is set to make its maiden test flight next week at Lockheed Martins Fort Worth, Texas, test site according to BGen David R. Heinz, deputy program executive officer of the F-35 Lightning II Program.

The engine being developed for the F-35 Lightning II fighter jet has passed major milestone in the form of a successful Preliminary Design Review.

According to the Copenhagen Post the Social Democrats believe that purchasing helicopters instead of costly fighter jets to replace F-16s would be a better decision both economically and militarily.

The Netherlands yesterday became the first of the F-35 partner nations to extend its participation into the production and support phase of the Joint Strike Fighter program.

EDO has received a contract from Lockheed Martin for the fabrication of advanced-composite structures for the F-35 Lightning II aircraft program.

Danish defense company Terma and Lockheed Martin have entered into a contract worth USD 6.5 million for the design, development, integration, testing, and production of seven test pods for the F-35 Lightning II.

Volvo Aero Norway has signed an agreement with General Electric to produce two key components for the F136 engine in the US F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft.

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.

The Turkish Air Force will likely select the U.S. F-35 Lightning II as its next generation fighter, and not the Eurofighter Typhoon. Turkey plans to procure nearly 100 fighters over the next 15 years.

The F135 has achieved Initial Flight Release from the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO). Robert Burnes, JPO F-35 propulsion director, has declared all F135 tests and verification reports complete, clearing the F-35 Lightning II to fly.

Plans for initiating environmental analyses for proposed locations of the Air Force's newest fighter, the F-35A Lightning II, were announced by Air Force officials today.