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First Japanese F-35 Components Mate

Pat Host

Wednesday, December 16th, 2015

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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…

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