F-35 Joint Strike Fighter: JSF Events & Contracts 2007-08

F-35A AA-1(click to view full) The F-35 Lightning II is a major multinational program intended to produce an “affordably stealthy” multi-role strike fighter that will have three variants: the F-35A conventional version for the US Air Force et. al.; the F-35B Short Take-Off, Vertical Landing for the US Marines, British Royal Navy, et. al.; and the F-35C conventional carrier-launched version for the US Navy. The aircraft is named after Lockheed’s famous WW2 P-38 Lightning, and the Mach 2, stacked-engine English Electric (now BAE) Lightning jet. System development partners included The USA & Britain (Tier 1), Italy and the Netherlands (Tier 2), and Australia, Canada, Denmark, Norway and Turkey (Tier 3). Now the challenge is agreeing on production phase buys, with initial purchase commitments expected around 2008-2009. Export interest is also beginning to stir in a number of quarters, even though full testing will not be complete until 2014. This entry covers events until the end of 2008, while a newer article offers continuing coverage of the F-35 program. * The F-35 Family of Aircraft * F-35 Program: Production Timelines & Structure * F-35 Program: Events & Developments, 2007-08 [updated] * F-35 Program: System Development & Production Contracts, 2007-08 [updated] * […]