F-35 Lightning II Pushing Ahead on All Fronts

With 11 test aircraft on the assembly line, nine nations signed onto the program's production and sustainment phase, one aircraft deep into flight testing and another nearing completion, the F-35 Lightning II program is meeting its schedule and budget targets, and is on track to begin deliveries to the armed services in 2010.

"The Lightning II is a sophisticated machine and the program is extraordinarily complex, but the absolute commitment demonstrated by our international team is driving success after success, from the aircraft's first flight last December to the phenomenal accuracy and quality shown in the manufacturing process," said Tom Burbage, Lockheed Martin executive vice president and general manager of F-35 program integration.

"We are proud that these and other remarkable achievements are the result of a global effort from our friends all over the world."

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