he United Kingdom will equip its fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters with Boeing Small Diameter Bomb II (SDB-II) weapons as an interim capability while integration delays continue to affect Europe’s MBDA Spear 3 missile program.
F-35 stealth fighter simulation models
National defense debates now intersect with reliance on foreign-controlled military systems like the F-35 fighter jet.
Speaking at the Singapore Airshow at Singapore Changi Airport (SIN), a senior executive said the region could field close to 300 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft by 2035.
Lockheed Martin has confirmed that 2025 became the most productive year in the history of the F-35 Lightning II program, underscoring the aircraft’s central role in allied airpower.
A December 19 inspector general audit found that the Department of Defense did not consistently hold Lockheed Martin accountable for poor F-35 sustainment performance under a 2024 contract.
Vermont Air National Guard F-35A fighters deploy to Puerto Rico, boosting U.S. strike power under Operation Southern Spear.
Norway plays a central role in a new US Air Force weapons procurement as production work for a key F-35 missile advances overseas.
Switzerland is reassessing its F-35A procurement after sharp cost escalations pushed the program beyond the approved budget.
Canada’s decision to join the EU’s SAFE initiative marks a major shift in its defense posture and signals a wider strategic pivot.
Saudi Arabia’s push for F-35 fighter jets could reshape Middle Eastern air power, ending Israel’s long-standing stealth monopoly.