DefenceTalkU.S. Air Force Airmen will partner with the Royal Air Force and the French Air Force for a second trilateral exercise beginning April 12 through April 28, 2017, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis. Atlantic Trident 2017, hosted by the 1st Fighter Wing, focuses on operations in a highly contested operational environment through a variety of complex, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/f-35a-to-face-eurofighter-rafale-in-combat-exercise-for-first-time-69724/

DefenceTalkU.S. Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 152 conducted aviation delivered ground refueling with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 11, 2017. The ADGR marked the first evolution of this form of refueling for VMFA-121’s F-35B Lightning II aircraft. The purpose of the training was […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-marines-train-to-refuel-f-35bs-from-tankers-on-ground-69706/

DefenceTalkThe F-35 still has a long way to go before it will be ready for combat. That was the parting message of Dr. Michael Gilmore, the now-retired Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, in his last annual report. The Joint Strike Fighter Program has already consumed more than $100 billion and nearly 25 years. Just […]https://www.defencetalk.com/f-35-joint-strike-fighter-program-continues-to-stumble-69627/

DefenceTalkStealth isn’t new in the Air Force; but, stealth combined with the multirole capabilities of the F-35A Lightning II is proving to be a game changer in the Nevada desert. Units from across the Air Force have converged here for Red Flag 17-1, the Air Force’s premier air combat exercise, which pits a friendly force […]https://www.defencetalk.com/f-35a-stealth-brings-flexibility-to-battlespace-69105/

DefenceTalkThe F-35A Lightning II can carry thousands of pounds of bombs, but its ability to gather and share information is just as deadly. Pilots from the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings brought this fifth-generation technology to Red Flag 17-1 air combat exercise here. The F-35 is designed to share what it sees with legacy aircraft, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/interoperability-is-key-to-f-35a-combat-success-69079/

DefenceTalkAfter eight days “at war” the F-35A Lightning II is proving to be an invaluable asset during Red Flag 17-01, the Air Force’s premier air combat exercise held at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The F-35A is a fifth-generation, multi-role stealth fighter designed to gather, fuse, and distribute more information than any other fighter in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/f-35a-proving-its-worth-at-red-flag-combat-exercise-68992/

DefenceTalkUS Secretary of Defense James Mattis has ordered a review of the Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter program after President Donald Trump assailed its $400 billion price tag, the Pentagon announced Friday. At the same time, Mattis ordered a similar review of the $4 billion cost for developing a new aircraft for the US president, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pentagon-chief-orders-review-of-f-35-fighter-program-68940/

DefenceTalkFour of the Navy’s newest F-35C Lightning II joint strike fighter aircraft arrived at Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore, Jan. 25. The jets’ arrivals mark the first time the new strike-fighter variant has been deployed to a West-coast based squadron, the recently reactivated “Rough Raiders” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 125. “It was my first […]https://www.defencetalk.com/first-pacific-based-f-35c-fighters-arrive-at-nas-lemoore-68933/

DefenceTalkExecutives of aerospace giant Lockheed Martin pledged again Tuesday to limit costs on the F-35 fighter jet amid pressure from President Donald Trump, but those efforts should not impact the program’s profitability. Chief executive Marilyn Hewson, who met twice with Trump following his critical comments prior to Friday’s inauguration, said the new president’s objective is […]https://www.defencetalk.com/lockheed-says-trump-pressure-wont-affect-f-35-profitability-68893/

DefenceTalkThe 33rd Fighter Wing loaded and released the Air Education and Training Command’s first live bombs from an F-35A here, January 17. In total, six aircraft were loaded with armed GBU-12s, and two bombs were released over the Eglin Air Force Base range. The GBU-12 is a 500-pound laser guided general-purpose bomb. The F-35 can […]https://www.defencetalk.com/f-35a-training-aircraft-drop-gbu-12-bombs-for-the-first-time-68869/