DefenceTalkWorking with Lockheed Martin and the UK Ministry of Defence, we have linked simulation facilities across five UK sites to create a common synthetic environment to evaluate F-35 interoperability with other UK military platforms. Linking Air and Maritime A recent trial saw Royal Navy, RAF and US Navy pilots operating the F-35 fighter jet during […]https://www.defencetalk.com/ukus-trials-review-f-35-interoperability-in-a-simulated-maritime-scenario-48193/

DefenceTalkThe Air Force’s most advanced strike aircraft, the F-35 Lightning II, is a vital capability that the nation needs to stay ahead of adversary technological gains, the Air Force chief of staff told a Senate panel here, June 19. Testifying before the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Defense, Gen. Mark A. Welsh III said air […]https://www.defencetalk.com/f-35-is-backbone-of-air-forces-future-fighter-fleet-welsh-says-48196/

DefenceTalkIndications are that the F-35 joint strike fighter program — the most expensive aviation program in Defense Department history — is on track, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics told a Senate panel here June 19. Testifying before the Senate Appropriations Committee’s defense subcommittee this morning, Frank Kendall said the F-35 will […]https://www.defencetalk.com/joint-strike-fighter-on-track-costs-coming-down-kendall-says-48171/

DefenceTalkSouth Korea formally opened bidding Tuesday on a $7.3 billion deal to provide 60 advanced fighter planes, with three aviation giants vying for what is the Asian nation’s largest defence contract to date. US companies Boeing and Lockheed Martin and the European aerospace consortium EADS are in the running, and all have prefaced their bids […]https://www.defencetalk.com/south-korea-opens-bidding-on-7-3-bn-fighter-jet-deal-48154/

DefenceTalkThe largest fleet of F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighters grew to 25 aircraft as the F-35 Integrated Training Center here welcomed two new Air Force F-35A variants of the multi-role fighter to the Emerald Coast, June 5. The expansion gives the 58th Fighter Squadron the ability to fly an expanded schedule and more readily […]https://www.defencetalk.com/fleet-grows-training-increases-for-f-35-48089/

DefenceTalkAn F-35A conventional takeoff and landing aircraft completed the first in-flight missile launch of an AIM-120 over the Point Mugu Sea Test Range, June 5. It was the first launch where the F-35 and AIM-120 demonstrated a successful launch-to-eject communications sequence and fired the rocket motor after launch — paving the way for targeted launches […]https://www.defencetalk.com/f-35a-completes-1st-in-flight-missile-launch-48060/

DefenceTalkThe Air Force announced today it expects to declare F-35A Lightning II initial operation capability in December 2016. The announcement was included in a joint report detailing service-specific IOC requirements and dates for each of the F-35 variants that was delivered to Congress today. “The Air Force has spent the last six months looking at […]https://www.defencetalk.com/air-force-establishes-f-35-ioc-target-47997/

DefenceTalkA Lockheed Martin F-35B Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing (STOVL) Lightning II test aircraft recently completed the first-ever Vertical Takeoff (VTO) on May 10. VTOs are one of the many capabilities required for the fielding an F-35B aircraft. While not a combat capability, VTOs are required for repositioning of the STOVL in environments where a jet could […]https://www.defencetalk.com/f-35b-completes-first-vertical-takeoff-47831/

DefenceTalkThe F-35 Flight Test Update in the Volume 27, Number 3 issue of Code One concluded with the first aerial release of an AIM-120 AMRAAM on 19 October 2012. This tenth installment in the series of flight test updates on the F-35 program covers numerous other weapon releases as well as other achievements of the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/f-35-flight-test-update-10-47757/

DefenceTalkThe Air Force took another step forward with its newest fighter jet when an advanced F-35 Lightning II landed at the service’s lead training base, home to the largest fleet of F-35s worldwide. The new stealth fighter kicks off a major training effort at the F-35 schoolhouse on an aircraft with unmatched capabilities. The F-35 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/f-35-fighter-takes-another-step-forward-47726/