Avengers and the F-35B

04/09/2018
F-35B Lighting IIs assigned to the "Avengers" of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211 participate in a Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training (SWATT) exercise and Maj. Chris Brandt, F-35B pilot assigned to VMFA 211, conducts an interview on the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) in the Pacific…

Marines, the F-35B and CENTCOM

04/08/2018
Lance Cpl. Taryn Escott, Marine Corps Forces Central Command AFB MACDILL, Fla. -- The F-35B Lightning II aircraft arrived at U.S. Central Command on MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., April 4, 2018. The purpose of the two-day visit was to inform CENTCOM senior leadership on the capabilities and limitations of…

Debut of Republic of Korea’s First F-35A

04/01/2018
South Korea is the ninth country to get the F-35. An article by Nick Zazulia published on March 28, 2018, underscored the South Korean perception of the importance of receiving the aircraft to their defense efforts. Korean ministers, generals and pilots and American legislators all (sang) the F-35's praises and…

Achievement of F-35 Delivery Target for 2017 of 66 Aircraft

04/01/2018
On Friday, December 15, 2017, Lockheed Martin delivered the 66th F-35 aircraft for the year, meeting the joint government and industry delivery target for 2017. According to a Lockheed Martin press release dated December 18, 2017, the importance of meeting the delivery number was highlighted. On Friday, December 15, Lockheed Martin…

F-35-C Aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln

04/01/2018
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jessica Paulauskas Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) completed fleet carrier qualifications (CQ) for the F-35C Lightning II program, marking another milestone for the new aircraft, while underway March 17-21. Pilots assigned to the "Rough Raiders" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 125…

Australian-Based Firm Varley Delivers Support Capabilities for F-35s

04/01/2018
During a visit to Australia in March 2018, the Second Line of Defense team visited Williamtown Airbase and the Hunter Valley area. The Hunter valley area is well known as a significant wine growing area but it also has technology firms which among other things are supporting the standup of…

Standing Up an F-35 Avionics Test Center in Denmark

03/31/2018
Terma and Scandinavian Avionics officials announced they are teaming up to form the Avionics Test Center in Denmark to support the F-35 fighter aircraft maintenance capabilities. According to an article written by Mariana Iriarte, Technology Editor for Military Embedded Systems and published earlier this month: Officials state there is a…

Pratt And Whitney Deploys Logistics Upgrade for F-35 Fleet

03/31/2018
"Jet-engine builder Pratt & Whitney reported that a team of subject matter experts completed an upgrade to F-35 Lightning II fleet-management system at 12 sites around the world, implementing automated tracking of life-limited propulsion parts for the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. "All of the operational bases where the JSF aircraft…