Tag: Lightning II

The Air Force will deploy a small number of F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter aircraft this weekend on a long-planned training deployment to Europe, Pentagon officials announced today.

The Navy made aviation history Nov. 3 as an F-35C Lightning II carrier variant Joint Strike Fighter conducted its first arrested landing aboard an aircraft carrier off the coast of San Diego. The arrested landing is part of initial at-sea Developmental Testing I (DT-I) for the F-35C, which commenced Nov. 3 and is expected to last two weeks.

There have been some wild assertions about F-35 unit cost recently.  See the Lockheed claims as reported in Breaking Defense, Defense News and others that we should expect F-35A...

Arrival of four F-35As at Edwards Nellis Air Force Bases marks the elevation of the new aircraft flight testing from developmental to operational testing of the new aircraft. "What we do here over the next few years will absolutely play a large part in determining the jet's effectiveness in real-world operations for the next 30 to 40 years" Lt. Col. Steven J. Tittel, the 31st TES commander said.

Sources in Japan report the cost of the initial F-35A fighters Japan has agreed to buy during Fiscal Year 2013 (FY13) may total as much as $196.9 million per aircraft, almost 50% higher than previously reported. However, analysts predict that although the cost increase may generate a short-lived political outcry, it is unlikely Japan will cancel its order in favor of a competing aircraft.

Unlike the US requirements for all-aspect stealth for its future combat aircraft, other countries have other requirements and may opt for different stealth fighters mean different technological approaches for their future fighter planes. The article examines what India could be looking for in its future stealth planes.

US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta announced Friday that the United States remains committed to the further development of the Marine Corps’ version of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, effectively removing the F-35B from the probation announced by former secretary Gates.

Japan Self Defense Air Force future replacement of F-4J fighters (F-X) is becoming a head-to-head competition between the two American aerospace giants, Boeing and Lockheed martin, offering the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and an advanced variant F/A-18 Super Hornet. Tokyo is expected to make a decision next month. Besides the two fighters’ operational capabilities Japan is likely to give high marks for involvement of domestic companies.

The first pair of production Lightning II aircraft deployed this week to join the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The Integrated Training Center at Eglin AFB is expected to operate a fleet of 59 F-35 fighters at the peak of the training activities here.

The first production model of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II made its inaugural flight February 25, 2011. The jet will head to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., to support developmental testing shortly after the Air Force takes delivery. Designed to meet the requirements of the U.S. Air Force, the F-35A is also the primary export version of the Lightning II.

The delays in development and testing have increased the cost of the aircraft. In an effort to control the escalating cost the Pentagon negotiated...

Israel will be the first country to receive the F-35 through the United States government’s Foreign Military Sales process. beginning in 2015. In August 2010...

The F-35 Lightning II aircraft brings new capability to the US Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. It will also serve as a centerpiece...

Pratt & Whitney announced today the certification of its F135 engine to power the Lightning II's first flight later this year after successfully completing...