DefenceTalkThe U.S. Navy’s FY17 budget request will transform the Unmanned Carrier Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) system into an unmanned aerial tanker, a far cry from the stealthy strike aircraft Congress has been pushing for. The move is part of a broader effort to mitigate a looming fighter shortfall that also involves extending production […]https://www.defencetalk.com/uclass-becomes-unmanned-tanker-as-us-navy-offsets-fighter-shortfall-66674/

DefenceTalkATLANTIC OCEAN: Two F-35C Lightning II carrier variants conducted their first arrested landings aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) off the coast of the eastern United States on Oct. 2. U.S. Navy test pilots Cmdr. Tony “Brick” Wilson and LT Chris “TJ” Karapostoles landed F-35C test aircraft 73/CF-03 and 75/CF-05, respectively, aboard USS Eisenhower’s […]https://www.defencetalk.com/f-35c-lands-on-carrier-phase-developmental-test-65555/

DefenceTalkLockheed Martin and Turkish company Roketsan signed a contract to cooperatively develop the SOM-J missile for integration into the F-35 internal weapons bay. SOM-J is a new generation air-to-surface standoff cruise missile. The contract enables the companies to move forward with their Technical Assistance Agreement, making the SOM-J missile available to international customers. SOM-J integration […]https://www.defencetalk.com/lockheed-and-roketsan-to-develop-mid-range-cruise-missile-for-the-f-35-65412/

DefenceTalkLockheed Martin introduced Advanced EOTS, an evolutionary electro-optical targeting system, which is available for the F-35’s Block 4 development. Designed to replace EOTS, the F-35’s current electro-optical targeting system, Advanced EOTS incorporates a wide range of enhancements and upgrades, including short-wave infrared, high-definition television, an infrared marker and improved image detector resolution. These enhancements increase […]https://www.defencetalk.com/lockheed-offers-advanced-electro-optical-targeting-system-f-35-65362/

DefenceTalkOrbital ATK announced today that it has been awarded a $119 million contract by the U.S. Navy for the fourth full-rate production lot of the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) and a fifth lot for up to $141 million. The contract covers All-Up Round missiles and captive air training missiles for the U.S. Navy and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/orbital-wins-order-advanced-anti-radiation-guided-missile-aargm-65308/

DefenceTalkCAMERI AIR BASE, Italy: Italy’s first F-35A Lightning II, known as AL-1 and assembled at the Cameri Final Assembly and Check Out (FACO) facility, flew for the first time today marking the program’s first-ever F-35 flight outside the United States. Lockheed Martin F-35 test pilot Bill “Gigs” Gigliotti, lifted off the runway at 1:05 p.m. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/maiden-flight-for-the-first-f-35-made-in-italy-65292/

DefenceTalkAt the heart of the Air Force’s plans to retire the A-10 is the question of whether the F-35 can take over the close air support mission. So far, there has been significant doubt that the F-35 will be able to provide the same or better close air support to troops in the meantime. Congress […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pentagon-will-test-f-35-against-a-10-65137/

DefenceTalkCEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa: Sen. Joni Ernst, Lockheed Martin and Rockwell Collins executives commemorated the delivery of the first Gen III F-35 Helmet Mounted Display System (HMDS) today. In addition to the HMDS, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II demonstrator was on site at the Cedar Rapids headquarters of Rockwell Collins for Sen. Ernst to get […]https://www.defencetalk.com/rockwell-delivers-first-gen-iii-f-35-helmet-mounted-display-system-64987/

DefenceTalkThe U.S. Marine Corps’ F-35B Lightning II aircraft reached initial operational capability July 31, 2015 with a squadron of 10 F-35Bs ready for world-wide deployment. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121), based in Yuma, Arizona, is the first squadron in military history to become operational with an F-35 variant, following a five-day Operational Readiness Inspection, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-marines-corps-declares-the-f-35b-operational-64945/

DefenceTalkNELLIS AIR FORCE BASE: F-35A Lightning IIs from the 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron played the U.S. Army’s primary close air support platform during the latest iteration of the Green Flag exercise, GF 15-08, as the Air Force’s program works toward its goal of declaring initial operational capability by the end of this year. The […]https://www.defencetalk.com/31st-tes-f-35s-take-on-green-flag-15-08-64714/