Aerospace Group:

First Japanese F-35 Components Mate

Pat Host

Wednesday, December 16th, 2015

SHARE:

First Japanese F-35 Components Mate

The Air Force's F-35A conventional variant. Photo: Air Force.

The first Japanese-built F-35 started the mating process early Tuesday when its wings, fuselage and tails joined together for the first time to form the aircraft’s structure, according to a statement by F-35 prime contractor Lockheed Martin [LMT].The aircraft, a conventional F-35A variant designated AX-5, will complete its assembly in the electronic mate and assembly station (EMAS) and roll out of the factory for delivery in 2017. Company spokesman Eric Schnaible said Tuesday AX-5’s first components were loaded at the…

Congress

Pentagon Fiscal 2027 Budget To Address Cannibalization Of Parts For F-35, Legislator Says

The Pentagon’s upcoming fiscal 2027 budget request will help reduce the cannibalization of parts for the F-35 fighter by Lockheed Martin [LMT], the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee’s […]

Budget

Trump’s $1.15 Trillion Request For DoD Is The ‘New Normal,” HASC Chairman Says

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—The Trump administration’s nearly $1.2 trillion baseline defense budget request for fiscal year 2027 will be adopted and will be the foundation for the “new normal” going forward, […]

Congress

Trump Wants Second Reconciliation Bill On His Desk By June 1

President Donald Trump on Wednesday called on Congress to pass and send a second reconciliation bill to his desk by June 1. The deadline follows congressional Republicans’ backing a pursuit […]

Space

Upgrading Current GPS Ground System “Now a Viable Option,” As GPS OCX Problems Continue, Space Official Says

Upgrades to the GPS ground system–the Architecture Evolution Plan (AEP)–is an option under consideration by the Defense Department’s space acquisition chief, as problems continue in fielding the GPS Next Generation […]