Lockheed Martin F-35

A decade’s worth of investment to counter the latest Russian and Chinese threats is finally close to entering operational service across the U.S. fighter fleet.

Lockheed Martin does not expect to sign the contract for two lots of F-35 production before year-end, although it could incur costs and book revenue.

The service on Dec. 2 released images of an F-16 from the 40th Flight Test Squadron at Eglin AFB, Florida, releasing the weapon over the Gulf of Mexico.

Aircraft that had been earmarked for upgrade to the F-16V standard will now be upgraded by Turkish Aerospace Industries.

For more information about Aviation Week Intelligence Network’s (AWIN) 2024 Military Fleet & MRO Forecast and other Aviation Week data products, please see: https://pgs.aviationweek.com/forecast

Romania has become the latest European country to sign for the Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Lockheed Martin will partner with a group led by Finish synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite supplier Iceye.

Turkey’s Baykar has completed a takeoff and landing of its Bayraktar TB3 uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) from the Anadolu amphibious assault ship (LHD).

BAE Systems has said its work on Future Combat Air Systems could contribute £37 billion to the UK economy by 2070.

Australia, the U.S. and UK have agreed under the AUKUS pact to jointly accelerate the testing and fielding of hypersonic weapons.

Northrop Grumman has delivered the first test Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW) to the U.S. Air Force, just more than one year after receiving the contract.

MBDA has completed the first guided firing of the Spear 3 mini cruise missile, which is destined for use on the UK’s Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters.

The F-35Cs launched from the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Red Sea.

Top Navy officials remain confident in the affordability and design requirements for the F/A-XX as Air Force leaders consider their own next-generation fighter.

Top service official says tanker, fighter and Collaborative Combat Aircraft plans are unaffordable without large changes.

Israel’s F-15 acquisition aligns closely with the Aviation Week Intelligence Network’s (AWIN) 2025 Military Aircraft Market Forecast’s conclusions regarding acquisitions across the Middle East and North Africa region in the coming decade.

Poland has agreed to buy 32 F-35s and the Czech Republic says it will take 24 of the stealth fighters.

Most defense programs end up more expensive than planned, but the B-21 is still cheaper than the Air Force expected. Supporters say it is time to buy.

Shawn Warren joined GE Aerospace’s team selling F110 engines in 2018 when the engine still had an uncertain future.

The image was unveiled this week at the Airlift/Tanker Association conference.

U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall pointed to other budget priorities.

But the Marine Corps probe, released Oct. 31, found the incident was not a result of a dereliction of duty.

The U.S. State Department approved Denmark to buy some 200 of the RTX AIM-120D-3 for $744 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced Oct. 29.

Lockheed Martin has claimed the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program will deliver more economic benefit to the UK than any other current or future combat aircraft program.

Airshow China comes Nov. 11-14 to Zhuhai, the stage for a biennial showcase of the country’s ever-expanding aviation and space industries.