3
04 INTRODUCTION: GAME CHANGER
Many of those associated with the Lockheed
Martin F-35 Lightning II programme
have referred to this revolutionary fighter
aircraft as a game changer. Jamie Hunter
introduces the F-35 and its journey to date.
06 UK LEADERSHIP:
UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL
Air Commodore Lincoln Taylor is the Assistant
Chief of Staff, Capability Delivery – Combat
Air, Royal Air Force. He is also the UK Senior
Responsible Owner (SRO) for the F-35.
12 UK FLIGHT TEST: PAX PIONEERS
BAE Systems has played a central role in the
F-35 Integrated Test Force and will continue
to do so as future capabilities are rolled out.
18 UK LIGHTNING FORCE:
‘DAMBUSTERS’ RETURN HOME
On June 6, the British Lightning programme
took a major step forward as No 617
Squadron ‘Dambusters’ brought its first
aircraft back to RAF Marham, Norfolk.
34 LATEST NEWS: LOOKING AHEAD
With the System Development and
Demonstration phase complete, the Joint
Operational Test Team is gearing up for
Initial Operational Test and Evaluation –
the F-35’s most stringent test to date.
38 F-35A INTO SERVICE:
A STEALTH AIR FORCE
The US Air Force will be numerically
the largest operator of the Lightning
II. It has now declared the F-35A
ready for combat and is beginning
to deploy the aircraft globally.50 F-35B INTO SERVICE:
LEADING FROM THE FRONT
The US Marine Corps was the first service
to declare initial operational capability with
the Lightning II and is now deploying its
F-35Bs aboard amphibious assault ships.60 F-35C INTO SERVICE:
A FLIGHT DECK REVOLUTION
The US Navy is the last of the three
US services to take the Lightning II
through to initial operating capability
(IOC). It’s been a long path from
initial flight to service entry.90 TEST REVIEW:
A TEST OF CHARACTER
The F-35 accomplished the final
developmental test flight of the System
Development and Demonstration (SDD)
phase of the programme on April 11, 2018.
It marked the culmination of the initial
major phase of testing, and represents one
of the most significant milestones to date.ABOVE: An F-35B from US Marine Corps
operational test and evaluation squadron
VMX-1. Jamie Hunter COVER: A British F-35B
Lightning II of No 17 Test and Evaluation
Squadron. Jamie Hunter
Editor: Jamie Hunter
Assistant Editor: Thomas Newdick
Design: Lee Howson
Group Editor: Stuart Qualtrough
Commercial Director: Ann Saundry
Production Manager: Janet Watkins
Marketing Manager: Martin Steele
Group CEO & Publisher: Adrian CoxCONTACTS
Key Publishing Ltd
PO Box 100, Stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9 1XQ
+44 (0)1780 755131
E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.keypublishing.comDistribution: Seymour Distribution Ltd
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7429 4000
Printed by Warners (Midlands) Plc,
Bourne, LincolnshireThe entire contents of this special edition is
copyright © 2018.No part of it may be reproduced in any form or
stored in any form of retrieval system without
the prior permission of the publisher.Published by Key Publishing Ltd
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70 AUSTRALIAN AMBITION
Australia is one of the strongest advocates
of the F-35, and is set to purchase up to 100
aircraft to replace its F/A-18A/B Hornets.72 ADIR INTO COMBAT
The Israeli Air Force has been very
proactive with its F-35As and is the first to
have exposed them to combat operations.74 LIGHTNING’S EUROPEAN HUB
Italy is set to operate both the F-35A
and B variants and has also secured
considerable industrial benefits.76 MISAWA MASTERS
Having commenced initial training
at Luke AFB, the Japan Air Self-
Defense Force has begun transferring
F-35s to its base at Misawa.78 LIGHTNING PIONEERS
The Netherlands will be among the
smallest F-35 operators in terms of
numbers, but it has played a significant
role in the project from the outset.84 ARCTIC WARRIORS
Norway has been unwavering in
its support of the F-35 programme,
and is well advanced with
becoming operationally ready.86 KOREA JOINS THE CLUB
The Republic of Korea is one of the
latest operators to begin flying its F-35s.
Alongside a floundering domestic fighter
project, the F-35 offers the ROKAF a
significant step up in capability.88 TURKISH TENSIONS
The Turkish Air Force is set to become a
major operator of the F-35. However, amid
deteriorating relations with the US, some in
Washington are looking to block deliveries.