Lockheed Martin F-35

By Graham Warwick
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Robert Wall
Greece has become the latest European country to sign on to the Lockheed Martin F-35 program, agreeing to buy 20 of the stealth fighters.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
The Pentagon is still limiting payments to Lockheed Martin amid upgrade struggles.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Chen Chuanren
Lockheed Martin ended a seven-month delivery suspension after the F-35 Joint Program Office accepted F-35s with “truncated” capabilities.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Matthew Fulco
From July 2023 until the middle of this month, the Pentagon had refused delivery of the world’s most advanced combat aircraft.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
The Pentagon is still withholding some payments to Lockheed Martin for F-35s, despite deliveries resuming with a limited number of new jets making their way to U.S. forces.
GASCC & RIAT

By Steve Trimble
The Joint Program Office (JPO) broke the delivery pause by deciding to accept aircraft with “truncated” capabilities for at least several months.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Robert Wall
The U.S. Navy plans to buy active expendable BriteCloud decoys from Leonardo to improve the self-protection equipment of the F-35.
GASCC & RIAT

By Steve Trimble
A longevity, thrust and fuel efficiency upgrade for the Lockheed Martin F-35 has passed a preliminary design review (PDR) milestone, Pratt & Whitney says.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Jens Flottau, Robert Wall
While aerospace and defense companies have lately enjoyed an embarrassment of riches in demand, that has exposed severe weaknesses in their ability to execute.
Manufacturing & Supply Chain

By Steve Trimble
Lt. Gen. Michael Schmidt, the F-35 program executive officer, on July 11 approved the so-called “truncation plan.”
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
Despite obvious historic parallels with the TSR-2, industry partners are confident they can deliver a new-generation combat aircraft in the mid-2030s.
GASCC & RIAT

By Brian Everstine
Frank Kendall has spent his time as secretary working to reshape the Air Force—but will his work outlast him?
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Robert Wall
The German government says it will meet the NATO target of spending at least 2% on defense in its 2025 budget and following years.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Steve Trimble
The Pentagon did not release a timeline for completing the transition at either base.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Tony Osborne
A wave of new orders and investments in capabilities is giving Eurofighter a “golden moment.”
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
Armasuisse has given initial approval for an offset program that would see four of Switzerland's future F-35 JSF combat aircraft partially assembled in-country.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Robert Wall
The Danish government is adjusting its F-35 plans because of delays the fighter program has suffered in introducing the Technology Refresh 3 software upgrade.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Michael Bruno
Honeywell International says it is buying the U.S.-based radar and electronic-warfare businesses of the former Cobham company for around $1.9 billion.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare

By Steve Trimble
Lockheed Martin F-35s will become more expensive over the next four years, with flyaway prices rising 16-18% depending on the variant.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Brian Everstine
U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall says the budget plan for maintaining its fleet is “not executable” and needs to be fixed now.
Budget, Policy & Operations

Readers write about the B-21 as a tanker, the F-16’s reclined seat, redesigning the F-35, B-2 sightings and airline ancillary fees.
Aviation Week & Space Technology

By Tony Osborne
Patria and Pratt & Whitney have signed an agreement that paves the way for F135 engine production and sustainment in Finland to support Helsinki's future F-35 fleet.
Supply Chain

By Tony Osborne
Airbus has unveiled concepts for an uncrewed wingman that could support German Air Force Eurofighters in the 2030s.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
A technology similar in description to the Leonardo BriteCloud is now on the U.S. Navy’s shopping list for a self-defense upgrade for the Lockheed Martin F-35.
Aircraft & Propulsion