India’s IAF chief says the US made no formal F-35 offer, raising questions about stealth fighters and India’s AMCA plans.
F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
The Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) first F-35A Lightning II has completed its maiden flight at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth (FWH), Fort Worth, Texas.
Sensitive F-35 components reportedly diverted to Hong Kong have triggered a US security inquiry, congressional briefings and renewed scrutiny of the fighter’s global supply chain, spare-parts accountability and protection of stealth-related technology.
Germany has received its first F-35A Lightning II from Lockheed Martin as the country prepares to introduce 35 fifth-generation fighters into Luftwaffe service.
Finland has received its first two F-35A Lightning II fighters at Rovaniemi, beginning the country’s transition from the F/A-18 Hornet to a new-generation fighter fleet.
Pratt & Whitney (PW) is investing $25 million to expand its facility in Niepołomice, Poland (NIE), strengthening production of precision components for commercial and military engines.
The 187th Fighter Wing, known as the Red Tails, tested its ability to generate and sustain F-35A Lightning II combat power during Operation Tuskegee Thunder at Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM), also known as Dannelly Field, in Alabama.
The Pentagon now projects the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program will cost about $536.3 billion to develop and procure, up from $485.2 billion in the previous estimate. Its total lifecycle cost, however, has fallen to roughly $1.93 trillion from $2.06 trillion.
Switzerland’s first F-35A Lightning II is taking shape at Leonardo’s Cameri facility in Italy, where the first forward fuselage section and wing have entered assembly.
GE Aerospace and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions are advancing the GEK800, now designated F143-ZZ-100, after the US Air Force awarded the companies an engineering, manufacturing and development contract for the engine as a second source propulsion system for the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) programme.