Lockheed Martin F-35

European F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) operators are bolstering interoperability by sharing their aircraft and munitions as well as conducting maintenance and sharing resources to jointly utilize the combat aircraft more flexibly.

The U.S. State Department has approved the sale of up to 48 Lockheed Martin F-35A fighters to Saudi Arabia.

Rafael says it is pursuing the integration of its Spice 1000 air-to-ground munition on the Lockheed Martin F-35.

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

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

The inaugural flight of Germany's first F-35 marks a major strategic shift, turning a once-rejected U.S. fighter into Berlin's primary defense fallback.

Patria is gearing up for production of F135 engines for Finland’s fleet of F-35 Lightning IIs with an eye on long-term sustainment of the turbojet.

Denmark finalized 16 additional F-35As despite Greenland tensions and fire damage to a Danish aircraft.

Singapore will receive F-35Bs for U.S. training in 2026 before establishing its first local F-35A presence in 2029.

The slow decision to move ahead on a future fighter is putting pressure on the F-35 program to perform sustainment.

Three new missile program details spell out the Navy’s high- and low-end munitions goals.

Collins Aerospace completed altitude testing of a major subsystem competing for a contract to replace the Honeywell power and thermal management system inside the Lockheed Martin F-35.

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The U.S. Air Force’s latest fighter deployment to Australia has revealed a reality: If it wants to get into the fight quickly, it needs support from allies.

Switzerland now rates its long-range air defense project as “red,” warning it lacks the ability to get the effort back on track, while the quarterly assessment of major defense projects downgrades the risk level associated with the purchase of Lockheed Martin F-35A fighters.

The UK’s June 2026 Defense Investment Plan (DIP) switched the country’s defense modernization into 6th gear, with £298 billion ($402 billion) in funding to be made available through 2029.

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force is exploring dispersed operating concepts for its Lockheed Martin F-35A fleet.

USAF Pacific commander calls for enhanced air defense command-and-control at austere locations as dispersed operations increase.

Lockheed aims to begin production of its networked Sniper targeting pod in 2027, boosting F-35 connectivity.

MBDA is launching low-rate production of the Spear 3 mini cruise missile after a series of successful flight trials.

A refreshed Combat Air Strategy would accelerate collaborative combat aircraft, modernize the fighter fleet and reshape how the RAF intends to fight.

Turkey has begun talks with Russia to enable it to sell on the controversial S-400 air defense system, the purchase of which got it banished from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.

Aviation Week Defense Market Analyzer data shows that spending by militaries around the world is set to spike in 2027.

With funding as well as demonstrators taking shape and new partners waiting in the wings, GCAP is moving from ambition to reality.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said he will lift sanctions on Turkey that could potentially pave the way for that country’s re-entry back into the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.