
News: United Kingdom
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Two U.S. F-35 Lightning II aircraft and about 20 supporting airmen arrived in Bulgaria today from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, as part of a deployment that enhances the region’s ability to host the aircraft for future deployments and operations.
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F-35As Deploy to Estonia for the First Time
Two F-35A Lightning II aircraft and approximately 20 supporting Airmen arrived at Ämari Air Base, Estonia, today, from RAF Lakenheath, England. -
US, UK Leaders Mark F-35A Program Milestone
Senior leaders from the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Air Force and the Royal air force gathered to highlight a significant F-35A Lightning II program milestone, April 19. -
F-35A Arrives at RAF Lakenheath, Marking First Overseas Training Deployment to Europe
F-35A Lightning IIs, Airmen and accompanying equipment arrived at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, today, marking the aircraft’s first overseas training deployment to Europe. -
Air Force Kicks Off Atlantic Trident Exercise with the F-35 and British and French Partners
Beginning on Wednesday, American airmen will partner with their British and French counterparts for the 2017 Atlantic Trident exercise at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, according to the Air Force. -
F-35’s UK Arrival Moves Closer with £80m Contract Award
Readiness for the arrival of the UK’s first F-35 Lightning II jets took another step forward with the awarding of a contract by the US Department of Defense F-35 Joint Program Office worth more than £80m (US$102.2m) to Lockheed Martin to deliver the initial training, engineering, maintenance and logistics support for the UK -
Pilots Begin Flights In New F-35 Lightning II Simulator In Preparation for Trials On Carrier
A world-leading flight engineering simulator created by BAE Systems is ready to be “flown” by F-35 Lightning II pilots for the first time as they prepare for flight trials on the UK’s new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier next year. -
F-35 Successfully Conducts First Firings of MBDA’s ASRAAM
Conducted from both Naval Air Station Patuxent River and Edwards Air Force Base in the USA, the effort has seen both flight trials and air-launched firings of the ASRAAM successfully take place. -
US F-35Bs to Fly on UK Carriers
United Kingdom Royal Air Force and Royal Navy pilots have been able to test fly F-35s off US aircraft carriers as part of the country's "regeneration of UK carrier strike capability," Fallon said. -
F-35 MRO&U Initial Component Global Assignments Made by DoD
The Department of Defense has assigned F-35 Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul and Upgrade (MRO&U) capability for the first component repair assignments Outside the Continental United States (OCONUS), for the first 65 of 774 repairables. -
Edwards AFB Squadron Tests Missile for European Ally’s F-35
From Norway to Australia, members from a number of allied and partner nations have come to Edwards Air Force Base to team with base units to test systems, enhance international cooperation and advance their own air force’s capabilities. -
The F35: A 21st Century Coalition Asset
The F-35 was designed with coalition warfare in mind from the very beginning. -
F-35 Lightning II Surges Forward with Record Breaking Weapons Test Successes
During this unprecedented surge period, a total of 30 weapons were dropped or fired -
2016 Farnborough International Airshow
The Farnborough International Airshow combines a five-day tradeshow with a two-day public airshow that displays some of the world's premiere military and commercial aircraft. -
F-35 Packs a Punch
The F-35 is sleek and stealthy, thanks to internally-carried weapons, but that limits the operational payload and the jet’s air-to-ground capability, correct? To some extent, that is true, but here’s an alternative view. -
Phase II Cost Reductions Announced at Farnborough 2016
The initiatives are built upon the U.S. Government’s Better Buying Power initiatives, which encourage defense contractors and the USG acquisition community to determine new and innovative ways to reduce the cost of their goods and services. -
USAF Sees No Major Hurdles To F-35 IOC
As the F-35 makes its international debut in the United Kingdom this week, a top U.S. Air Force general says there are no major hurdles to the service declaring the F-35A operational close to its target date of Aug. 1. -
US Marine Corps F-35s Cleared for Farnborough
The UK Ministry of Defence confirms that an aircraft’s flight profile meets regulations and approves it for the show. -
Three Air Force F-35s Make Historic Transatlantic Flight
The U.S. Air Force made its first Atlantic crossing with the F-35A—the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant of the Lightning II used by the USAF—on Thursday June 30. -
Britain’s First F-35 Stealth Fighter Jet Lands In UK
An RAF F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter has touched down in Britain for the first time. -
F-35 Completes First Transatlantic Flight on Delivery to UK
The next-generation VTOL jet has finally replaced the venerable Harrier on its own soil. -
First RAF F-35B Stealth Fighter Jet Lands in UK
An RAF F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter has landed in the UK for the first time after crossing the Atlantic. -
Marine-RAF Team Bring Lightning to United Kingdom
Marines with Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron One and a Royal Air Force pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 (VMFAT-501) successfully conducted the first ever trans-Atlantic flight of the F-35B Lightning II, July 29, 2016. -
British F-35 Lands in UK After Crossing Atlantic Ocean
The aircraft touched down at RAF Fairford, one British and three American jets, along with their tanker and support aircraft. -
F-35B Touches Down in the UK
After a day of constant rain and cold temperatures, immediately after the jets landed and taxied to the front of the hangar, the sun came out and a very full and bright double rainbow appeared directly over the jets. -
2016 Royal International Air Tattoo
This year's show will mark the UK airshow debut of the F-35 Lightning II. -
F-35A Nearly Combat Ready
The first off-station deployment exercise for the F-35A Lightning II confirmed that the Air Force’s newest fighter jet is on track to reach initial operational capability later this year. -
The Royal Air Force Completes F-35B Tanker Trials a Week Early
During a seven week detachment to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, a Royal Air Force (RAF) A330 Voyager tanker conducted 18 air-to-air refueling (AAR) test trials with an F-35B Lightning II Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft from the F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force (ITF). -
RAF Voyager and F-35 Air To Air Refuelling
On April 15, 2016, the RAF deployed a Voyager aircraft to US Naval Air Station Patuxent River in support of F-35B Lightning II Air to Air Refuelling (AAR) trials. -
The Dambusters in 2016: from Lancaster to Lightning
The Dambusters will again fly at the forefront of aviation technology as they prepare to become Britain’s first F-35B Lightning Squadron. -
MOD Announces Investment Boost For the Home of the UK’s New Cutting-Edge Aircraft
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has announced contracts worth £167 million to upgrade and build new facilities at RAF Marham, the future home of the UK’s F-35B Lightning II squadrons. -
ANALYSIS: Is it Live or is it Simulated? Only F-35 Knows for Sure
Not only does the F-35’s full-mission simulator provide greater fidelity than previous generations of fighter trainers, it also compensates for the fact it is too expensive to equip every test and training range with the full complement of threats it would be likely to go up against. -
F-35 Lightning II Worldwide Fleet Exceeds 50,000 Flying Hours
F-35 Lightning II aircraft operating at 12 different locations worldwide surpassed the 50,000 flight hour mark this month. -
First ASRAAMs Delivered for UK F-35 Testing
The test examples of ASRAAM will be integrated to become the type's first British-built missile, and will be used during flight trials and air-launch tests this year. -
Testing Times Ahead for the Navy’s New Jet Fighter
The Navy’s strike fighter of tomorrow will be tested to the limit – without ever leaving the ground. -
Farnborough International Airshow Could Welcome up to Five F-35s at Summer Showcase
UK MoD, US Marine Corps and US Air Force aircraft plan to participate in flying display at international trade show case and public weekend -
U.S. Air Force Confirms Sending Lockheed F-35 Jets to UK Air Shows
The two jets from Luke Air Force Base will be on static display at the shows, and one will participate in a so-called "heritage flight," with vintage warplanes, Air Force spokeswoman Major Kelley Jeter said in a statement. -
F-35 Confirmed for 2016
Visitors to the Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford will be the first outside the US to see the stealthy, supersonic aircraft's state-of-the-art capabilities when it displays on all three days of the airshow (July 8-10). -
F-35 Training at Luke AFB Gathers Pace with 34 Jets
The multinational pilot training centre at Luke AFB in Arizona has grown exponentially since receiving its first Lockheed Martin F-35 in March 2014, and that pace won’t let up in 2016 as the 56th Fighter Wing zips past 3,000 Lightning II sorties. -
BAE Starts Work on Samlesbury F-35 Expansion
The work is being done to prepare for a rise in production of the combat jet. -
The F-35’s Global Supply Chain
Since the first F-35 Lightning II rolled out of the Lockheed Martin factory in Fort Worth, Texas in 2006, the program’s reach has exponentially expanded around the globe. -
UK to Buy More F-35 Jets, Boost Anti-Terror Budget
Britain plans to increase the number of stealth fighter jets it can launch from aircraft carriers over the next decade and boost anti-terrorism spending by 30 percent, finance minister George Osborne said on Sunday. -
Lockheed Prepares for F-35 Program to Take Off
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. -
The F-35B: From ‘Probation’ To Transformation
This global fleet will build a foundation for a fundamental change in the way air power operates in overall combat concepts of operations. -
U.K. Defence Secretary Welcomes Completion of 200th Rear Fuselage for F-35 Lightning II
The aft fuselage, designed for a Conventional Take-Off and Landing variant aircraft, will now be transported to Lockheed Martin’s final assembly facility in Fort Worth, Texas to be fitted to the rest of the aircraft. -
F-35B in Beaufort: One Year Anniversary
July 17, 2015 marks the one year anniversary of the F-35B Lightning II’s arrival to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. -
Troops in Europe Getting Chance to ‘Fly’ F-35
Troops at some bases in Europe are getting a rare glimpse inside an F-35 Lightning II cockpit. -
F-35B Jet Begins First Ski-Jump Launch and Weapons Testing
The land-based test — conducted by the F35 Lightning II Pax River Integrated Test Force — took place at Naval Air Station in Patuxent River, Maryland, US. -
F-35B Aces First Release of a UK Paveway IV Bomb
The inaugural weapons separation test of the Paveway IV conducted by the F-35 Lightning II Patuxent River Integrated Test Force (ITF) was a major milestone for the U.K. Royal Navy and RAF F-35 program. -
Preparing to Operate Off of the HMS Queen Elizabeth: Working with the Marines at VFMAT-501
The Brits are integrated members of the squadron and the Marine Corps and British maintainers are learning together how to adapt their specific maintenance protocols – which are different – to a common airplane. -
U.S. Marines Successfully Complete F-35B Night Operations During OT-1
U.S. Marines and sailors worked together to perform night operations with the F-35B Lightning II aboard USS Wasp at sea May 21-23 during Operational Testing 1 (OT-1). -
U.S. Marines Partner with UK Allies in F-35B Operational Test Aboard USS Wasp
As the first operational test (OT-1) of the F-35B Lightning II takes place aboard the USS Wasp (LHD 1) this week, service members from the United Kingdom are working alongside their U.S. Navy and Marine Corps counterparts to assess the integration of the F-35B into amphibious military operations. -
F-35 Heads for the Ski Jump in Next Key Round of Tests
Two UK pilots will test the ability of the new warplane to take off from upward-sloping ski-jump ramps used on aircraft carriers like those operated by Britain and Italy. -
17 (Reserve) Squadron Begins UK F-35 Testing
The squadron, which was first formed in 1915, will be responsible for all the test and evaluation of the UK’s first F-35 Lightning II. -
First International F-35B Arrives Aboard Fightertown
Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 welcomed the first United Kingdom F-35B. -
RAF Lakenheath Selected to Host First F-35s in USAFE
Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom, was selected as the first U.S. Air Forces in Europe base to host the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter. -
F-35 MRO&U Assignments Made by DoD
The Department of Defense has assigned F-35 Regional Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul and Upgrade (MRO&U) capability for airframes and engines for the European Region. -
33rd Fighter Wing honored with top modeling and simulation award
The National Training and Simulation Association selected the F-35 Lightning II Training System for the 2014 Modeling & Simulation Award. -
F-35 Training System Team Honored With Top Modeling and Simulation Award
The National Training and Simulation Association selected the F-35 Lightning II Training System for the 2014 Modeling & Simulation Awards. -
UK F-35B Achieves Key Weapons Test Milestone
A UK test team including personnel from BAE Systems, has successfully completed initial aircraft handling trials for ASRAAM and Paveway IV weapons on the F-35B Lightning II aircraft at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland, United States. -
F-35 Simulation Facility Opens in UK for F-35 Development
A simulation facility for the F-35 Lightning II has been opened at Lockheed Martin UK’s Ampthill site in Bedfordshire. -
UK orders first operational F-35 combat aircraft
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed for its first four operational Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft as part of the Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP 8) production lot, it was announced on 21 November. -
Contract signed for first production batch of F-35B aircraft
The UK Ministry of Defence has signed the contract to order 4 Lightning II combat aircraft. -
BAE Scoop Top Supply Chain Award For F-35 Collaboration
BAE Systems has been named as the International Procurement Team of the Year by the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) for the company's role in building vertical tails for the F-35. -
F-35 QEC Carrier Integration in the UK
The Queen Elizabeth Class (QEC) carrier will be the new home for the UK’s F-35B aircraft, delivering an uncompromising carrier strike capability anywhere in the world. -
F-35 Horizontal Tails Pass the Structural Test
Structural testing of the F-35 horizontal tails for all three variants is now complete, proving the tails are structurally sound for up 24,000 hours of flying, the equivalent to three lifetimes of the aircraft. -
BAE Working F-35 and Typhoon Interoperability
BAE, a major partner on both the F-35 and Eurofighter Typhoon programs, is undergoing tests to find ways to link the training systems for the two planes together in order to determine best tactics for operations. -
The sky’s the limit for fighter pilot David
BAE's F-35 flight simulator at Warton is training pilots to land on the new HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier. -
Carrier-Strike Capability Returning To U.K.
Britain’s largest ever warships will not serve as a base for fixed-wing aircraft for at least another four years, but their introduction is being felt across the breadth of the country’s armed forces. -
F-35 pilot praises ‘fantastic’ plane ahead of airshow debut
One of the most advanced fighter planes in existence is set to make its international debut in the UK. -
F35 Pilot among guests at HMS Queen Elizabeth ceremony
A Royal Navy instructor pilot working on the F-35B Lightning II jets which will fly off the new aircraft carriers will be among the guests at the naming ceremony of HMS Queen Elizabeth at Rosyth. -
Lightning, tornados over Edwards
Two RAF tornados visited Edwards Air Force Base for interoperability testing with the F-35. -
RAF Marham could become an international hub for next generation fighter jet engineering
Talks are taking place to make Norfolk an international engineering hub for the next generation of fighter jet. -
150th aircraft set for F35 fighter programme completed
BAE Systems completed the manufacture of the 150th F-35 rear fuselage and tail set at its factory in Samlesbury, Lancashire. -
Air Tattoo Makes Aviation History
Aviation history will be made in the UK this summer when the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II makes its much-anticipated European debut. -
F-35 Lightning II jet to make maiden British flight
The F-35B Lightning II will fly in Britain for the first time this summer at 2 airshows. -
UK expertise leads the way in defence programme
The cream of Britain’s military flyers and maintainers, hand-picked as the pioneers of The UK’s F-35 training programme, are working hand-in-hand with their US allies. -
Pilot completes UK’s first vertical landing in an F-35
Squadron Leader Hugh Nichols is the first UK instructor pilot to perform a vertical landing in the F-35B Lightning II - the UK’s next generation stealth combat aircraft. -
Pilot completes U.K.’s first vertical landing in an F-35B
Royal Air Force Squadron Leader Hugh Nichols, an instructor pilot, completed the U.K.’s first F-35B vertical landing at Eglin Air Force Base. -
Handlers Test Kit to Move F-35 on HMS Queen Elizabeth
Royal Navy handlers and engineers have tested moving the Fleet Air Arm’s future jet around with a remote-controlled ‘trolley’. The team at Pax River, near Washington DC, tried the prototype of the Electric Shipboard Handler (Aircraft) to move the 23-tonne Lighting II around without the need to flash up its engine. -
Lightning II Impresses RAF Pilot as Training Continues in USA
As training with the new F-35B Lightning II stealth aircraft continues in Florida, USA, a Royal Air Force (RAF) pilot has described how impressed he is with the ‘game-changing’ jet. -
Royal Navy Aircraft Carrier Ramping Up
The final section of the flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth has been fitted onto the Royal Navy's new aircraft carrier. -
GE Aviation at Bishop’s Cleeve at Forefront of Fighter Aircraft Programme
Staff at GE Aviation are celebrating a major landmark in the company's involvement in the world's largest defence programme. -
F-35: Lifting The UK’s Economy
Thirteen British companies and the U.K. Minister of Defence Equipment, Support and Technology participated in a Lockheed Martin Industry Recognition Event during the DSEI tradeshow today. -
British Pilots, Maintainers Praise F-35B Performance Onboard the USS Wasp
The United Kingdom’s future fighter aircraft, the Lockheed Martin F-35B, earned strong praise for its performance from British pilots and maintainers during recent developmental testing held onboard the USS Wasp.
“Just flying F-35 is the highlight of my career, so being able to come to the USS Wasp and fly F-35… -
‘Immortal’ Air Squadron to Fly Royal Navy’s Newest Jets
An historic naval air squadron is to be resurrected as the first Royal Navy formation to fly the UK’s Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft.
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Joint Statement – Norwegian/UK F-35 collaboration
The Norwegian and UK Ministries of Defence have today agreed to cooperate more closely on the future operation of the F-35 Lightning II in Europe. -
Dambusters To Be Next Lightning II Squadron
The Royal Air Force has today announced that 617 Squadron, the famous ‘Dambusters’, will be the first operational squadron using Lightning II aircraft. -
Training for Joint, U.K. F-35 Programs Heat Up
The largest fleet of F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighters ramped up to 28 aircraft June 25, bringing in new capability for the F-35 Integrated Training Center as the team trains to provide combat operations capability in the years ahead.
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Third F-35 for the U.K. Arrives at Eglin Air Force Base
The third Lockheed Martin F-35B Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing (STOVL) Lightning II for the United Kingdom arrived at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., yesterday where it will be used for pilot and maintainer training. -
Pilot Completes First F-35 Vertical Landing for Royal Air Force
Squadron Leader Jim Schofield became the first Royal Air Force pilot to complete a vertical landing of a Lockheed Martin F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) Lightning II on May 28.Following the flight, Schofield commented on the F-35B’s handling capabilities.
“The F-35 has truly revolutionised STOVL… -
First Navy Pilot Gives Glowing Feedback of ‘Unrivaled’ Next-Generation Fighter
The Navy’s first pilot of its next-generation jump jet says it will give the nation’s future carriers “unrivaled” striking power.After a month flying the F35 Lightning II – the most advanced stealth fighter in the world – Lt Cdr Ian Tidball has given the aircraft a glowing testimonial.
The veteran Harrier… -
Joint Strike Fighter
A small team of UK personnel are learning all about the fifth-generation stealth aircraft at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.So far, Britain has taken delivery of 2 Lightning II multi-role Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. The pair of STOVL (short take-off and vertical landing) variants of the F-35 fast jet are currently…
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The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter: simply a phenomenal flying machine
Squadron Leader Frankie Buchler, currently testing Britain's new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in the US, speaks to the Telegraph about the jet "that looks out for its pilot".
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Third F-35B for United Kingdom makes First Flight
Monday, the third United Kingdom Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II sped down the runway at Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base embarking on its first flight. The aircraft, known as ZM137, departed at 10:16 a.m. with Lockheed Martin F-35 Chief Test Pilot Alan Norman at the controls. ZM137 will complete a…
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First International Student Pilot Flies F-35
The first international student aviator at the 33rd Fighter Wing, training to be an F-35B instructor pilot, completed his first sortie in the joint strike fighter on March 19. -
United Kingdom Accepts First International F-35
The United Kingdom accepted the first international Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft in a ceremony today with senior representatives of the U.K. Ministry of Defence and the U.S. Department of Defense.