Lockheed Martin announced on 30 December, that it had delivered its 134th F-35 for the year, exceeding the original delivery goal of 131 aircraft. The 134th F-35 is an F-35B… Continue reading "Lockheed Martin Surpasses 2019 F-35 Delivery Goals"
On December 17, the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) declared that its F-35A fleet had reached initial operating capacity. The declaration was made during a ceremony at Cheongju Air… Continue reading "South Korea Declares F-35 Initial Operating Capacity"
Seven Royal Australian Air Force F-35As landed at RAAF Williamtown on 11 December. Three of the F-35As were in No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit markings, with the remaining four being… Continue reading "RAAF Williamtown F-35 Capabilities Grow"
For the first time, an F-35A stealth fighter jet successfully requested support from an artillery unit belonging to the US Army’s 1st Armored Division. The request was for fire support… Continue reading "F-35A Crosses New Integration Milestone, Requests Ground Unit Support"
Japan has reversed course on its decision to cease local assembly of its F-35 fighters, according to Nikkei. The Japanese government had previously decided to cease local assembly of F-35s… Continue reading "Japan Considering Continuing Local F-35 Assembly"
On 23 November, 3 F-35Bs of the Royal Air Force’s 617 and 207 Squadrons departed HMS Queen Elizabeth for RAF Marham in Norfolk. Their departure marks the conclusion of the… Continue reading "RAF F-35Bs Conclude WESTLANT 19 Operational Tests"
Lockheed’s Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS) remains a bottleneck for the F-35 program, according to testimonies made to the House Armed Services readiness and tactical air and land forces subcommittees… Continue reading "ALIS Continues to Hold F-35 Program Back"
The Pentagon’s F-35 Program Executive, Lieutenant General Eric Fick, testified on the 13th November, in front of US Congress. In his testimony, he affirmed efforts to procure alternative suppliers to… Continue reading "F-35 Program Executive: Turkey Will Be Phased out by March 2020"
On 31 October, the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) received its first Netherlands-based F-35A at Leeuwarden Air Base. The F-35A, tail number F-009, landed at 1530 local time after performing… Continue reading "Royal Netherlands Air Force Receives First Netherlands-Based F-35"
On November 6, the Chief of the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF), Brigadier General Tonje Skinnarland, declared that the RNoAF’s F-35A fleet has reached initial operating capacity. This follows the… Continue reading "Royal Norwegian Air Force Declares F-35 Initial Operating Capability"