Canada has received its first 2 Lockheed Martin CF-35A Lightning II fighter jets at Luke Air Force Base, near Phoenix, Arizona.
F-35
Switzerland has accepted major reforms to its defence procurement process after a parliamentary review questioned the handling of its F-35A fighter purchase.
The United States introduced the first operational fifth-generation fighter, the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, in 2005.
An unnamed foreign government is funding $18.79 million in development and integration work on a tailored F-35 variant, with the effort continuing through December 2030.
Canada has reportedly paused the planned purchase of 16 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters amid worsening trade tensions with the United States. The move comes as Ottawa reassesses its dependence on US defence suppliers, reviews its F-35 fighter acquisition and faces growing calls to strengthen domestic military manufacturing.
The Dutch government has approved a 240-hectare expansion of Lelystad Airport for F-35 fighter operations. The project includes new military infrastructure and a longer runway, requiring six businesses and four agricultural homes to relocate. The Ministry of Defence has acknowledged the impact on affected communities, while the implementation timeline remains unknown.
The U.S. Navy’s F-35C Lightning II completed its first arrested landing aboard the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) on October 13, 2026, marking a major milestone in integrating the fifth-generation stealth fighter with the Ford-class aircraft carrier ahead of its planned delivery in spring 2027.
India’s IAF chief says the US made no formal F-35 offer, raising questions about stealth fighters and India’s AMCA plans.
Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base is located at Crater Lake-Klamath Regional Airport in Klamath Falls, Oregon (LMT).
The F-35A deployment introduces a fifth-generation combat aircraft into the Indian exercise environment, where it is operating alongside Indian and foreign aircraft.