Lockheed Martin F-35

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

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.

The Pentagon is still limiting payments to Lockheed Martin amid upgrade struggles.

Lockheed Martin ended a seven-month delivery suspension after the F-35 Joint Program Office accepted F-35s with “truncated” capabilities.

From July 2023 until the middle of this month, the Pentagon had refused delivery of the world’s most advanced combat aircraft.

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.

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

The U.S. Navy plans to buy active expendable BriteCloud decoys from Leonardo to improve the self-protection equipment of the F-35.

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

While aerospace and defense companies have lately enjoyed an embarrassment of riches in demand, that has exposed severe weaknesses in their ability to execute.

Lt. Gen. Michael Schmidt, the F-35 program executive officer, on July 11 approved the so-called “truncation plan.”

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

Frank Kendall has spent his time as secretary working to reshape the Air Force—but will his work outlast him?

The German government says it will meet the NATO target of spending at least 2% on defense in its 2025 budget and following years.

The Pentagon did not release a timeline for completing the transition at either base.

A wave of new orders and investments in capabilities is giving Eurofighter a “golden moment.”

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.

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.

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.

Lockheed Martin F-35s will become more expensive over the next four years, with flyaway prices rising 16-18% depending on the variant.

U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall says the budget plan for maintaining its fleet is “not executable” and needs to be fixed now.

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.

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.

Airbus has unveiled concepts for an uncrewed wingman that could support German Air Force Eurofighters in the 2030s.

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.