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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Final report into UK F-35B crash raises broader operational safety concerns

Almost two years after an F-35B Lightning II assigned to the RAF’s No 617 Squadron ‘The Dambusters’ plunged into the Mediterranean following an aborted take-off attempt from HMS Queen Elizabeth, the UK MOD has released a final report of its investigation into the incident, highlighting concerns regarding safety and security aboard the Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier during its first operational cruise

USAF F-16C/Ds buddy up with ROKAF F-35As over South Korea

In continuing a tradition that dates back more than 20 years, airmen assigned to the USAF’s 8th Fighter Wing in South Korea have once again trained alongside their Republic of Korea Air Force counterparts during a US-ROK buddy squadron event that was held at Cheongju Air Base

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F-35B delays may leave RAF with just one deployable combat air squadron

Delays in confirming future orders of the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL)-capable Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II fifth-generation multi-role stealth fighter could leave the RAF only able to field a single squadron for combat air operations, British MPs have been warned

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Czech F-35A acquisition gains US approval

US State Department approval has been granted for the possible Foreign Military Sale of 24 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation multi-role stealth fighters, related equipment, munitions and training/logistical support services to the Czech Republic for an estimated cost of $5.62bn

VIDEO: F-35 test pilot reveals what the Lightning II is like to fly

In this final video Tony ‘Brick’ Wilson, Lockheed Martin’s Chief of Fighter Flight Operations and an F-35 test pilot, tells Key.Aero’s Dino Carrara what the Lightning II is like to fly and what makes the fighter so special

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How the F-35 has been adapted for life on US Navy supercarriers

An overview of the F-35C Carrier Variant in operation with the US Navy and US Marine Corps

VIDEO: How a new F-35 is tested before delivery

In this second video Tony ‘Brick’ Wilson, Lockheed Martin’s Chief of Fighter Flight Operations and also an F-35 test pilot, describes to Key.Aero’s Dino Carrara the testing a Lightning II undergoes from rolling off the production line to delivery to the customer.

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Royal F-35s – the UK’s stealthy defenders of the realm

An overview of the F-35B-equipped UK Lightning Force from a Key Publishing special magazine on the stealth fighter

VIDEO: Discover the vital work of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 test pilots

Tony ‘Brick’ Wilson is Lockheed Martin’s Chief of Fighter Flight Operations, and also an F-35 test pilot. In the first of three videos he gives Key.Aero’s Dino Carrara an exclusive insight into the work of the company’s test pilots on the cutting-edge F-35 programme.

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The challenge of keeping the F-35 up in the air while keeping costs down

From a Key Publishing special magazine on the F-35, David Isby provides an insightful overview of the untamed issue for sustaining the Lightning II fighter.

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