The test was a big achievement for two much-criticized programs: the Joint Strike Fighter and the Army’s IBCS network — and for the services’ struggle to work better together in a future war.

Last month, the defense ministry issued official inquiries into acquiring both aircraft — but, for now, the budget can buy only one.

Asked during his briefing here whether 25 by 25 was achievable, Greg Ulmer, head of the F-35 program for Lockheed Martin, said the company would prove itself just as it had by lowering the cost of an F-35A to below $80 million one year early.

The deal for hundreds of new F-35s will drive the cost per airplane below $80 million for the first time.

Amid chatter about what aircraft will make their way to Paris, the Air Force going all in.

The House Dems launch the first salvo in what promises to be a long defense budget saga, and they are drawing lines that will be hard to cross.

The Pentagon says a new F-35 deal is coming this summer, and promises more costs savings even as the program struggles to get needed spare parts.

F-35 Program Executive Officer Vice Adm. Mat Winter today told the HASC tactical air and land subcommittee that Lockheed was guilty of just that, adding that this had helped lead to a shortage of an average of 600 parts each month, causing production line slowdowns and cost increases.

Adding extra firepower to the F-35 shows how loudly Lockheed hears the footsteps of Boeing’s F-15X approaching.

“F-35 aircraft performance is falling short of warfighter requirements—that is, aircraft cannot perform as many missions or fly as often as required. This lower-than-desired aircraft performance is due largely to F-35 spare parts shortages and difficulty in managing and moving parts around the world”