By Michael Peck September 21, 2015 Finmeccanica–Selex ES has been awarded a contract by Lockheed Martin to provide advanced targeting lasers for the F-35. Finmeccanica-Selex will supply 165 lasers for the F-35’s electro-optical targeting system (EOTS), according to a company news release. “The laser, integrated into the EOTS, allows fighter aircraft crews to perform precision […]
By Guy Norris Sep 21, 2015 Aviation Week was invited to observe one of the final air-to-air refueling tests in the recently completed program to certify the Italian air force Boeing KC-767 tanker with the U.S. Air Force’s Lockheed Martin F-35A. Given the imminent flight of the first military-configured KC-46A Boeing tanker for the Air Force, […]
By Dario Leone September 24, 2015 The aircraft, designated AM-1, represents an important production milestone for both the F-35 program and the Norwegian Armed Forces, where 52 Lightning IIs are expected to replace the Royal Norwegian Air Force ageing F-16s, bringing the country national defense into a new era. Norwegian Minister of Defense, Her Excellency Ine […]
By Lara Seligman October 5, 2015 Norway’s ministry of defence is using a strategic defence review to push for significant funding increases for the country’s armed forces, as well as underscore the importance of the F-35 joint strike fighter to the Norwegian Air Force. Presenting the review last week, Norwegian Chief of Defence Adm. Haakon […]
BY: JAMES DREW OCTOBER 6, 2015 Lockheed Martin’s F-35 has not yet seen combat, but already the defence manufacturer is exploring “concepts” for installing and employing a high-power fibre laser weapon on the new-generation combat jet for shooting down missiles and other airborne threats. The company believes it finally has the right technology to produce […]
BY: JAMES DREW OCTOBER 6, 2015 Northrop Grumman has built the first F-35 centre fuselage destined for Japan’s domestic joint strike fighter assembly plant, operated by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). The company says the centre fuselage is the core of AX-5, Japan’s fifth example, and will become the first to enter Japan’s Nagoya final assembly […]
BY PATRICK TUCKER OCTOBER 6, 2015 Lockheed Martin’s new modular fiber lasers now convert fully 40 percent of input energy to output, which means that — along with advances in manufacturing, targeting, and size-weight-power minimization — the company’s now talking about putting a laser weapon on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. “We are absolutely looking […]
By Alex Nixon Oct. 7, 2015 Alcoa Inc. landed a $1.1 billion contract to supply titanium parts to Lockheed Martin for the military’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jet program. Alcoa said the nine-year deal was enabled by its $1.5 billion acquisition of Moon-based titanium manufacturer RTI International Metals this year. It’s the second high-profile win […]
By David Pugliese October 11, 2015 VICTORIA, British Columbia — Whether Canada withdraws from the F-35 program will be decided next week as Canadians select a new political party to form the country’s next government. Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau says if elected on Oct. 19, his government would remove Canada from the F-35 program […]
By Richard Sisk September 15th, 2015 Air Force Gen. Herbert. J. “Hawk” Carlisle said Tuesday the raging debate over whether the A-10 or the F-35 is better equipped to perform close air support was totally missing the point on the future of the mission. “What we’ve got to talk about is how you do UCAS […]