The US Air Force’s F-35A recorded the highest full mission-capable rate among all F-35 variants in fiscal 2025, yet only 28.5 percent of the jets could perform all assigned missions at any given time, according to a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report.
Lockheed Martin
A recent demonstration at Edwards Air Force Base (EDW), California, showed the method could update an F-22 Raptor in minutes rather than the months legacy aircraft often wait.
From stealth technology and artificial intelligence-powered sensors to massive weapons payloads and supercruise capabilities, modern fighter aircraft represent the pinnacle of military engineering.
Switzerland’s first F-35A enters major assembly at Lockheed Martin Marietta, with delivery to Arkansas set for mid-2027.
Earlier this year, the F-35 Joint Program Office and the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence completed the first test flight of 4 Selective Precision Effects At Range Capability 3 (SPEAR 3) missiles aboard a fifth-generation F-35B Lightning II test aircraft, marking a major milestone for Britain’s next-generation precision strike capability.
The Pentagon’s latest operational assessment found that the F-35 Lightning II modernization program has failed to deliver the combat improvements originally expected from its Technology Refresh 3 upgrade package.
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.
Israel has approved a new modification program for its Lockheed Martin F-35I Adir stealth fighter fleet, aiming to increase the aircraft’s operational range through the integration of external fuel tanks.
Canada’s federal government is continuing its review of the 88 jet Lockheed Martin F-35A purchase, with Defense Minister David McGuinty confirming that aircraft from other countries remain under active consideration.
Finnish Air Force pilot flies F-35A Lightning II for the first time from Ebbing Air Force Base, marking a key milestone in Finland’s fleet transition.