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.

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64th FS F-35As play aggressor at Red Flag 21-3

During Red Flag 21-3, hosted at Nellis AFB, Nevada, between July 19 and August 6, Blue Air pilots of multiple US forces came across a simulated Red Air enemy that no other Blue Air pilots during Exercise Red Flag have come across before

Lockheed Martin expects fewer F-35 deliveries than planned in 2022

Lockheed Martin expect that it will deliver fewer F-35 Lightning II fighters than planned to domestic and international customers through 2022

Space boost as Lockheed Martin produce Q2 results

Lockheed Martin reported a net sales increase of over US$800m in Q2 this year compared with the same reporting period in 2020 due in part to strong figures from the Space business segment

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USMC F-35Bs damaged in lightning strike over Japan

A pair of USMC-operated Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning IIs have been damaged after the two fifth-generation multi-role stealth fighters were recently struck by lightning in the vicinity of Makurazaki, Japan

F-35B Lightning II News Premium

CSG21: Embarked F-35B fighters have 80% availability

The combined UK and US F-35B air wing embarked on HMS Queen Elizabeth as part of the Carrier Strike Group 21 deployment has an 80% availability rate, however sustainment questions continue to surround the US-led stealth fighter programme

RAAF graduates first F-35A pilots trained in Australia

Four RAAF Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fifth-generation multi-role stealth fighter pilots have graduated from the platform’s first operational conversion course to be completed in Australia

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Switzerland selects F-35A as new fighter

Switzerland’s Federal Council determined at its meeting on June 30 that the procurement of 36 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fifth-generation multi-role fighters represented the most suitable solution for protecting the Swiss population from future air threats

Switzerland selects F-35 as new fighter

The Swiss Federal Council announced on June 30 that Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II had been selected as Switzerland's next fighter

RAF Typhoon in the Mach Loop News Premium

Routine UK military fixed-wing low flying drops

In an apparent blow to aviation enthusiasts in the UK, it can be revealed that routine military fixed-wing low flying dropped by nearly 33% in FY2019/2020 compared with the same reporting period the previous year

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CSG21: F-35s conduct first combat missions from HMS Queen Elizabeth

Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning IIs embarked aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth have conducted their first combat missions in support of the fight against so-called Islamic State, marking a new first for the Royal Navy’s new flagship aircraft carrier

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