Brought to You by the Members of the U.S. Naval Institute
F-35A Lightning II aircraft receive aerial refuelings from a Travis KC-10 Extender July 13, 2016 on the flight from England to the United States. US Air Force photo.
CAPITOL HILL — Lawmakers concerned with a recent uptick in deadly military aviation incidents pressed Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps leaders for details and possible solutions during a Thursday hearing.
Billie Flynn, F-35 Pax River ITF, conducts an external GBU-31 and AIM-9x buffet and flutter test flight from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, on April 4, 2018, in an F-35C test aircraft. Lockheed Martin Photo
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program’s goal of driving down costs is becoming a reality as the production of all three versions ramps up.
An F-35C Lightning II assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 101 is positioned on the bow catapults of the Nimitz-Class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) March 17, 2018, in the Atlantic Ocean. US Navy photo
It’s looking less and less likely the carrier-variants of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter will be ready for combat this year as has long been planned, but their first deployment is still expected in 2021.
An F-35C Lightning II assigned to the Grim Reapers of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 101 lands on the flight deck of aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). Abraham Lincoln is underway conducting training after successful completion of carrier incremental availability. US Navy Photo
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) recently notched some significant firsts for air operations, including using a new landing system during carrier operations and qualifying its first F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aviators.
Read More
Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79) transits the Arctic Circle on Sept. 5, 2017. US Navy Photo
ARLINGTON, Va. — The post-Cold War mentality of unrivaled military superiority must adjust to today’s reality — rivals and enemies are racing to match the U.S. capabilities around the globe, discussed a panel of Navy and Marine Corps experts Wednesday at the 2017 Defense News Conference. Read More
An F-35C Lightning II carrier variant, assigned to the Salty Dogs of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23, performs a touch-and-go landing on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73). US Navy Photo
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Navy has completed testing on potential solutions to solve a ‘must fix’ catapult launch problem on the carrier version of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter, the head of the JSF joint program office said on Wednesday. Read More
F-35C launching from a test range in Lakehurst, N.J. US Navy Photo
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Navy is starting tests next week for a fix to a critical safety issue found on the F-35C Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter, the head of F-35 Joint Program Office told reporters on Thursday. Read More
USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) sits in Dry Dock 5 onboard Fleet Activities (FLEACT) Yokosuka on July 13, 2016. US Navy Photo
The Navy wants $2 billion in additional funding this year for much-needed ship maintenance and fleet operations, and would also buy two dozen Super Hornets and an additional San Antonio-class amphibious warship if money were made available, according to an early January draft wish list obtained by USNI News. Read More
Aircraft CF-02, an F-35 Lightning II Carrier Variant attached to the F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force (ITF) assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 completes a flyover of the guided-missile destroyer USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000). US Navy Photo
The driving concept behind the Pentagon’s Third Offset Strategy comes down to : If we’re not changing, we’re losing to “pacing competitors” like Russia and China in conventional warfare. Read More
The following is an Oct. 9, 2015 slow motion video of a F-35C Lighting II, assigned to the Navy’s Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23 “Salty Dogs” (VX-23), landing on the deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69). Read More
