F-35 News Updates -- June 16, 2015

The U.S. Marine Corps version of Lockheed Martin's F35 Joint Strike Fighter, F-35B test aircraft BF-2 flies with external weapons for the first time over the Atlantic test range at Patuxent River Naval Air Systems Command in Maryland in a February, 2012. Photo: Reuters

Wall Street Journal: U.S. Marines One Test From Putting F-35 Combat Jet into Active Service

The Lockheed Martin Corp. F-35 is also being bought by the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy

LE BOURGET, France—The U.S. Marine Corps will put the Lockheed Martin Corp. F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program through one more major test before it is ready to declare the combat jet ready for war, the service’s Deputy Commandant for Aviation Lt. Gen. Jon Davis said.

The initial Marine Corps unit would have 10 F-35 jets upgraded to the latest software and hardware modifications. If all goes well, the Marines would be the first military unit to consider the combat jet operationally ready. “It looks like it is all coming into place,” Lt. Gen. Davis said in an interview at the Paris Air Show.

A few months ago there was still concern that some of the equipment upgrades may not be ready on time, but those have abated, he said.

More News On The F-35

Lockheed Martin Defends F-35’s Close Air Support Capabilities -- DoD Buzz
F-35 stealth fighter reaches key deadline with ongoing doubts over its capabilities -- News.com.au
Pratt & Whitney: F-35 Fleet Will Have Engine Fix by Early 2016 -- DoD Buzz
The F-35 Just Catches on Fire Sometimes -- War Is Boring
Military's delayed F-35 jet project "clearly on track" -- CBS
Italy Plans First F-35 Flight in October -- Defense News
First F-35 flight outside the U.S. to take place with Italian aircraft -- Ottawa Citizen
JSF Block Buy Could Reach 500 Fighters -- Defense News
Lockheed Martin Touts ‘Block Buy’ Option for F-35 -- AIN Online
Paris Air Show 2015: Lockheed Martin prepares for F-35 ramp-up to drive down costs -- IHS Jane's 360
U.S. Mulls F-35 Order at Fastest Fighter Output Since 1980s -- Bloomberg
F-35 demo: Flying the 'magic carpet' -- UT San Diego
Up Close and Personal With the Fearsome New F-35 Jet -- Wired
$5B And 700 High Tech Jobs: Reasons Why F-35 Has Friends -- Colin Clark, Breaking Defense
F-35 – Beyond Stealth -- Defense Update