News

The fundamental building block for all future avionics software on the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter has entered flight testing on an F-35 test jet.

Good progress is being made in F-35 flight testing by the CTOL and CV versions. F-35B STOVL mode flights have resumed, but the variant is still behind schedule.

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 in New York.

The Norwegian Ministry of Defence has announced plans to shift the bulk of its F-35 acquisition start-up from 2016 to 2018. A training unit with up to four F-35 jets will be established in 2016.

President Barack Obama is committed to ending funding this year for a second engine being developed for the multinational F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, press secretary Robert Gibbs said on Monday.

The National Guard's first F-35 pilot has arrived at his new unit and is ready to take on the Air Force's newest fifth-generation jet fighter.

Maj. Matt Hayden and Mr. Alan Dykhoff are part of the team at Edwards who test and verify the Lockheed Martin-built F-35 aircraft performs as advertised.

Air Force officials announced July 28 its proposal for basing 59 F-35 Lightning IIs at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

Officials at the Lockheed Martin facility formally announced the start of F-35 Lightning II center wing production operations at the plant during a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday.

The 5th generation F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter will serve as the centrepiece for 21st century global security while strengthening international political and industrial partnerships, a senior Lockheed Martin F-35 executive said Monday at the Farnborough Air Show.

The Government of Canada announced plans to acquire the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II as the country's next-generation fighter aircraft. The F-35 will replace Canada's fleet of CF-18 Hornets that entered service in the early 1980s.

The F-35 program continues an upwards trend as Lockheed delivers the last development jet, maintains its flight test schedule and prepares for additional first flights in the 3rd quarter.

The ninth Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter entered flight testing on Tuesday, becoming the second test jet to fly with the next-generation avionics package that will populate all operational F-35s.

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.

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.