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July 07, 2006
New U.S. F-35 Fighter Dubbed "Lightning II"
The stealthy F-35 Joint Strike Fighter being developed by the United States and eight other countries is to be named the "Lightning II," in homage to two earlier fighters.
The supersonic F-35 is being built by a team led by Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) at a cost of $276 billion. It is the costliest U.S. weapons program ever.
"The F-35 Lightning II will be the centerpiece of airpower in the 21st century for America and our allies," Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England said in a statement on Friday.
Bethesda, Maryland-based Lockheed is the prime contractor developing three variants of the single-engine plane.
U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley announced the name at Lockheed's Fort Worth, Texas plant, saying it represented the fruit of over a hundred years of flight and aerial combat.
The F-35's name echoes that of the sleek World War Two-era Lockheed P-38 Lightning, which scored the most aerial victories of any U.S. fighter in the Pacific. Designed as a high-altitude interceptor, the twin-propellor P-38 was also used for dive bombing, level bombing, ground strafing and photo reconnaissance.
English Electric, which later become BAE Systems (BA.L: Quote, Profile, Research), built a supersonic twin-engined jet in the mid-1950s that was also called Lightning. It could reach speeds of 1,500 miles per hour and remained in service until 1988.
"The F-35 Lightning II will carry on the legacy of two of the greatest and most capable fighter aircraft of all time," said Ralph Heath, president of Lockheed's aeronautics unit.
Britain's BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) are Lockheed's key subcontractors on the F-35 program.
Partner countries on the new fighter are Britain, which has committed $2 billion to the effort, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Australia, Norway, Denmark and Canada.
The United States and its partners last month agreed in principle to a long-term plan for how many fighters they would buy, but they are still working out details of a technology-transfer plan crucial to completion of the deal.
The draft pact includes statements of intent by the non-U.S. countries to buy a total 710 planes. The United States plans to buy 2,443, the first of which is due to be delivered to the U.S. Air Force in 2009.
The F-35 is designed to replace a wide range of existing aircraft, including the AV-8B Harriers, A-10s, F-16s, F/A-18 Hornets and Britain's Harrier GR.7s. The first F-35 is due to have its inaugural flight later this year.
From my email from the US Dept. of Defense
The name also remembers the Lightning jet the British developed in the mid-1950s. The aircraft was the first British aircraft to pass Mach 2, and it remained in the inventory until the late 1980s. Britain has been part of the Joint Strike Fighter program since the beginning.The Lightning II is designed to meet the needs of the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. The F-35A version is designed for conventional takeoffs and landings, and will be used by the Air Force. It will replace the F-15, F-16 and A-10. The B variant has vertical lift capability, and will be used by the Marines as a replacement for the AV-8B Harrier. The C variant will be for carrier launches and will ultimately replace the Navy's F-18s.
Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England congratulated the team that built the stealth-technology fighter, and said the aircraft will serve far into the future. "The F-35 Lightning II will be the centerpiece of airpower in the 21st century for America and our allies," England said.
Posted by Wild Thing at July 7, 2006 09:55 PM
Comments
I want one? First we get the F-22 and now this. How sweet.
Posted by: raz0r at July 7, 2006 10:37 PM
razOr ok so I will add this one to my shopping list for Christmas for you. I hope Santa has is sitting down when he gets my wish list. heh heh
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 7, 2006 11:59 PM
The P-38 Lightning is my favorite WWII fighter. The F-35 contract is to last a complete generation, about 30 years, with modifications and upgrades.
Now, if our damn anti-American liberals just don't give away, sell or let the secrets of the F-35 technology be stolen.
Posted by: TomR at July 8, 2006 12:01 PM
this is why we will always win.
Posted by: gregor at July 8, 2006 04:08 PM
Tom I agree, I am so angry at the left about this and other things. But what they do puts our troops in more danger then they are already.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 8, 2006 07:33 PM
HI Gregor, it sure is. I love it! I love the power of our military, it truly is an awesome thing. I would hate to be at the receiving end of it.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 8, 2006 07:35 PM
