DefenceTalkLockheed Martin and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) celebrated the beginnings of the first F-35 Lightning II for Australia yesterday. The aircraft, designated as AU-1, officially began the mate process, where major components of the aircraft are joined together to form the aircraft’s structure. AU-1 will then make its way down the assembly line […]https://www.defencetalk.com/first-f-35-for-australia-takes-shape-in-fort-worth-49348/

DefenceTalkThe Missile Defense Agency (MDA), U.S. Navy and Lockheed Martin team successfully intercepted a threat representative, medium-range, separating ballistic missile target using the second generation Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) weapon system and SM-3 Block IB guided missile. By successfully launching, tracking, and engaging the newest medium-range ballistic missile target configuration during this operational test, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/lockheed-aegis-bmds-successfully-completes-highest-target-intercept-yet-49292/

DefenceTalkLockheed Martin has submitted its competitive proposal for the U.S. Air Force’s Hosted Payload Solutions (HoPS) initiative aimed at leveraging commercial satellites for some government missions. According to the August 1 government solicitation, HoPS will provide the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) and other U.S. government organizations with “a capability for hosting […]https://www.defencetalk.com/lockheed-usaf-satellite-hosted-payload-initiative-49190/

DefenceTalkThe Missile Defense Agency (MDA), U.S. Pacific Command, and U.S. Navy sailors aboard the USS Lake Erie (CG 70) successfully conducted a flight test today of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) system, resulting in the intercept of a complex separating short-range ballistic missile target over the Pacific Ocean by the Aegis BMD 4.0 Weapon […]https://www.defencetalk.com/aegis-missile-defense-system-completes-successful-intercept-flight-test-49113/

DefenceTalkThe U.S. Air Force’s third Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) military communications satellite, designed and built by a Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] team, is ready to launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Launch is set for Sept. 18 with a two-hour launch window opening at […]https://www.defencetalk.com/usaf-ready-to-launch-third-advanced-extremely-high-frequency-satellite-49096/

DefenceTalkLockheed Martin’s paveway II Dual Mode Laser Guided Bomb (DMLGB) was successfully employed in recent U.S. Navy Tactics Development exercises at the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center in Fallon, Nev. During four missions over a two-day period, F/A-18C/D Hornets and F/A-18E/F Super Hornets released 36 GBU-12F/B bombs fitted with recently upgraded paveway II DMLGB […]https://www.defencetalk.com/paveway-ii-dual-mode-laser-guided-bomb-successfully-employed-in-navy-exercises-48954/

DefenceTalkThe F-35 Flight Test Update in the Volume 28, Number 1 issue of Code One concluded with the first aerial release of an AIM-120 AMRAAM from an F-35B on 26 March 2013. This eleventh installment in the series of flight test updates on the F-35 program covers the AIM-120 launch as well as other achievements […]https://www.defencetalk.com/f-35-flight-test-update-11-48901/

DefenceTalkLast Wednesday, Aug. 14, U.S. Marine Corps test pilot Lt. Col. Russell Clift performed the first F-35B night-time vertical landing aboard the USS WASP. During the Ship Suitability Sea Trials, also known as Developmental Test Phase Two (DT-II), the F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) variant will demonstrate critical capabilities of the aircraft that will be […]https://www.defencetalk.com/f-35b-accomplishes-first-night-vertical-landing-aboard-uss-wasp-48835/

DefenceTalkLockheed Martin celebrated the delivery of 22 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles to the U.S. Army and Marine Corps under the JLTV program’s Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract. JLTV team members marked the milestone during a ceremony at the Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control facility in Dallas. The vehicles will be transferred to the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/lockheed-delivers-22-jltv-development-vehicles-to-u-s-army-and-marines-48783/

DefenceTalkThe Lockheed Martin F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft completed its 500th vertical landing August 3. BF-1, the aircraft which completed this achievement, also accomplished the variant’s first vertical landing in March 2010 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. Next week, Sea Trials, known as Developmental Test 2 (DT-2) are scheduled to begin for […]https://www.defencetalk.com/f-35b-ready-for-sea-trials-48705/