DefenceTalkEDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE: Four-year-old Steve Rainey sat on the hood of his father’s car at a local airshow watching the small airplanes and helicopters at the airport. When the Thunderbirds in their F-100s sped by, Rainey fell off the car, looked up at the sky and thought, “I’ve got to do that.” Jan. 22, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/f-22-pilot-reaches-1000-flight-hours-62306/

DefenceTalkThe Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a $67.8 million contract to help finish a year’s worth of maintenance and repair work for the F-22 Raptor at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The contract calls for Lockheed to conduct preparation work, like procuring materials and services, for any F-22 aircraft heading into Air Force depots […]https://www.defencetalk.com/lockheed-awarded-68m-contract-for-f-22-work-at-hill-afb-61861/

DefenceTalkRAF Lakenheath in Suffolk will become home to the first 2 US F-35 fighter jet squadrons in Europe. The US Department of Defense has announced that RAF Lakenheath will become home to the first 2 US F-35 squadrons in Europe with the first aircraft due to arrive in 2020. The announcement is part of the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-announces-first-f-35-in-europe-to-be-based-in-the-uk-61343/

DefenceTalkA new squadron of 19 F-35 jets will be incorporated into the Israeli Air Force beginning in 2019 after the decision to purchase another set of planes was confirmed by the IAF and government officials. These newly engineered fighters are a step up compared to the F-16I, especially with the addition of new state-of-the-art stealth […]https://www.defencetalk.com/new-f-35-fighters-to-join-israeli-air-force-in-2019-61285/

DefenceTalkThe Pentagon’s fighter jet F-35 may not be fully operational until 2019 due to a newly discovered computer glitch. The $400 billion ultra-sophisticated jet, the most expensive in US history, was expected to enter service in 2015. F-35 is the fifth generation combat aircraft which is designed in three variations for US Air Force, Navy […]https://www.defencetalk.com/computer-glitch-prevents-us-most-advanced-f-35-fighter-jet-from-firing-until-2019-report-61223/

DefenceTalkThe F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter program office announced today the European locations for heavy engine and heavy air frame maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade facilities. “In the European region, F-35 initial air frame MROU capability will be provided by Italy by 2018,” Air Force Lt. Gen. Christopher C. Bogdan told reporters. Bogdan is […]https://www.defencetalk.com/f-35-european-maintenance-sites-announced-61122/

DefenceTalkThe establishment of a second F-35 stealth fighters squadron was approved by the Israeli government earlier this week, after a two-year long process. In addition, the government approved the acquisition of precision-guided munitions. The first of the 14 stealth fighters of the second squadron are scheduled to land in Israel in 2019 and will join […]https://www.defencetalk.com/israel-airforce-details-f-35-plans-61100/

DefenceTalkThe Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has expressed interest in procuring fourth generation stealth fighter aircraft FC-31 from China. Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanveer Hussain told Dawn.com on Friday the matter was being discussed with Chinese authorities. It is for the first time that a senior government functionary has confirmed talks with China over purchase […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pakistan-wants-to-buy-chinese-stealth-aircraft-minister-61055/

DefenceTalkThe F-35C Lightning II carrier variant Joint Strike Fighter conducted its first carrier-based night flight operations aboard an aircraft carrier off the coast of San Diego Nov. 13. Navy test pilot Lt. Cmdr. Ted “Dutch” Dyckman piloted F-35C test aircraft CF-03 for the inaugural night flight, taking off from USS Nimitz (CVN 68). At 6:01 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/f-35c-completes-first-night-flight-aboard-aircraft-carrier-61010/

DefenceTalkThe F-35C Lightning II, the carrier variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, continues initial sea trials aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) off the coast of Southern California. Through Nov. 6, the fourth day of at-sea testing, two test F-35C aircraft have completed 12 flights. During those 12 flights, the aircraft flew a […]https://www.defencetalk.com/f-35c-initial-at-sea-testing-progressing-aboard-uss-nimitz-60991/