The CNO and chairwoman toured the F-35 production line and speak to the men and women building the world’s most advanced air system.

The 318th rear section for an F-35 Lightning II combat jet has rolled off the BAE Systems production line in Samlesbury, Lancashire meaning that 10% of the global requirement has now been produced.

The Center Wing Assembly is a major structural component and represents approximately one quarter of the aircraft's fuselage.

The LRIP 9 production contract includes 53 conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) and 13 short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) propulsion systems.

Lockheed Martin is expecting "additional production expansion" for the F-35.

The latest agreement continues to support program affordability initiatives with continued reduction in price associated with propulsion system production.

The aircraft, designated as F-35A aircraft AS-1, officially began its mate process, where the four major components of the 5th Generation fighter aircraft are joined together in the Electronic Mate and Assembly Station to form the aircraft’s structure. AS-1 will continue its assembly here and is expected to roll out of the

The F-35 program will triple its aircraft production and fielding rate by 2019, producing over 120 planes per year. It will deliver about 43 planes next year.

The center fuselage, designated AX-5, will be integrated into an F-35A conventional takeoff and landing variant.

Over the next few years, the skies around Fort Worth will be filled with even more F-35s on shakedown flights as the Lockheed Martin plant moves toward full production of what, at $391.1 billion, is called the most expensive U.S. weapons system ever made.