F-35A Lightning II

Oct- 2026 -

5 October

Air

A F-35A Lightning II combat aircraft. Photo: Lockheed Martin

Finland Accepts First F-35 Jets From US

The Finnish Air Force has formally welcomed its first two F-35A Lightning II combat aircraft at the Lapland Air Wing in Rovaniemi, marking the start of in-country integration of a 64-platform order from US aerospace giant Lockheed Martin.

Sep- 2026 -

21 September

Europe

Christine Casimiro

Lockheed Martin Rolls Out Germany’s First F-35A Lightning II

Germany’s first of 35 F-35A Lightning II fighters has been presented to the German government at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Fort Worth, Texas.

Aug- 2026 -

20 August

Europe

Jodesz Gavilan

Germany’s First F-35A Completes Final Assembly

Germany’s first F-35A Lightning II has completed final assembly, bringing the aircraft closer to delivery and training with the German Air Force.

Jun- 2026 -

29 June

Europe

Christine Casimiro

Lockheed Martin Awarded $74M for UK, Italy F-35 Block 4 Weapons Integration

The US Navy has awarded Lockheed Martin a $74.2-million contract modification to integrate UK- and Italy-specific weapon systems into the F-35A and F-35B as part of the Joint Strike Fighter program's Block 4 modernization.

15 June

Europe

Christine Casimiro

Poland’s First Three F-35 Fighter Jets Enter Service

The first batch of Polish F-35 fighter jets has officially entered service, marking Poland as the first country on NATO’s eastern flank to field the US-made fifth-generation combat aircraft.

10 June

Air

A U.S. Air Force F-15EX Eagle II flies over the Gulf of America, September 16, 2025. The F-15EX, from the 40th Flight Test Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is one of the first F-15EXs in the Air Force, and is going through developmental and operational test series at Eglin to confirm its operational capabilities before it is delivered to the combat Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Blake Wiles)

Bea Castañeda

F-15EX Eagle II: Reinventing a Legend

This guide breaks down the F-15EX Eagle II, from its upgraded systems and heavy payload to how it fits into today’s high-end combat environment.

Apr- 2026 -

29 April

Technology

A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, lands on the flight deck of Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Pacific Ocean, March 28, 2026. The 11th MEU is currently underway aboard the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations demonstrating the United States’ long-term commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Joseph Helms)

Rojoef Manuel

Florida Researchers Model Supersonic Jet Noise for Safer Military Landings

Engineers in Florida have developed a model to explain and reduce the extreme noise produced by military jets during takeoff and landing, a long-standing risk to aircraft and ground crews.

27 April

Americas

Inder Singh Bisht

US Invests in F-35 Test Fleet to Fast-Track Future Upgrades

The US Department of Defense has awarded Lockheed Martin a $177M contract modification to construct three F-35 flight sciences test aircraft.

22 April

Land

Rojoef Manuel

Lockheed Martin, L3Harris to Build F-35 Upkeep Center in Canada

Lockheed Martin and MAS, a Canadian segment of L3Harris, have agreed to deepen cooperation to launch an F-35 depot in Mirabel, Quebec, advancing Ottawa’s push for domestic sustainment of its future fighter fleet.

16 April

Air