Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II
Lockheed Martin and its international partners developed the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) in three basic versions: the conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) F-35A, the short take-off/vertical landing (STOVL) F-35B and the carrier-variant (CV) F-35C. Since the first F-35A flew in December 2006, the fleet has racked up more than 155,000 flight hours, including more than 17,000 during development testing.
Delivery of production aircraft began in 2011 and the F-35B achieved initial operational capability (IOC) with the US Marine Corps in July 2015. The F-35A followed with the USAF in August 2016. The carrier-variant entered service with the US Navy in February 2019. More than 760 have been manufactured since production began in 2006.
BREAKING: More US F-35 squadrons for UK
US President Joe Biden revealed a range of measures to bolster US forces in Europe in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Green Mountain F-35 Lightnings
This year, Vermont’s 158th Fighter Wing made history as the first Air National Guard wing to be declared combat ready with the F-35A. Tom Kaminski outlines its history and fifth-generation transition
Inside NATO's Neptune Strike 2022 exercise
Neptune Strike 2022 recently took place in and over the Adriatic Sea, Daniele Faccioli and Remo Guidi report on the multi-nation exercise
SCOOP: Finland to build hundreds of F-35 forward fuselages
Finland will build hundreds of forward fuselages for Lockheed Martin’s global F-35 stealth fighter programme it has emerged, as the Finnish defence authorities inked deals on February 11 to confirm the acquisition of the fighter
Saab says Finland HX fighter bid was “good offer”
Saab’s CEO has sprung to the defence of the company’s ultimately unsuccessful bid for Finland’s HX Programme, intended to replace the Finnish Air Force’s ageing F/A-18 Hornets
Italy signs up for AIM-9X air-to-air missile
Italy has moved to acquire Air Intercept Missile-9X weapon systems from the US following the signing by the Italian Air Force of a Letter of Offer and Acceptance with the US Government
How Lockheed Martin is dominating the European fighter market
We report on US defence prime Lockheed Martin's tight grip on Europe's fighter market after the conclusion of Finland’s HX programme and Helsinki’s decision to opt for the F-35
BAE Systems to upgrade F-35 EW capabilities
BAE Systems has received a $493m contract modification from Lockheed Martin to upgrade the AN/ASQ-239 electronic warfare (EW) system for the F-35 Lightning II
USAF challenges: Retaining the combat edge
Balancing the need to sustain its fleet while embarking on key bomber and fighter procurement programmes, the US Air Force finds itself pressured as the demand to meet new challenges increases
UK defence exports dependent on aerospace sector
The UK’s reliance on its aerospace industry to secure defence exports has been highlighted in a report by UK Defence and Security Exports which detailed that 91% of combined order or contract value from 2011-2020 came from the sector