Belgium has received three additional Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighters at Florennes Air Base, expanding its in-country fifth-generation fleet to seven aircraft.
Lockheed Martin
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.
Lockheed Martin’s first F-35A Lightning II built for Germany has completed its maiden flight, marking a major step toward the Luftwaffe’s introduction of the fifth-generation fighter.
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.
Taiwan receives its first F-16V Block 70 fighter jets from the US as long-delayed deliveries officially begin.
Germany’s first F-35A enters final production before Luftwaffe delivery, marking a major milestone in Germany’s fighter modernization.