Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and the F-35 Joint Program Office delivered the 500th F-35. In February, the F-35 program exceeded 250.000 flight hours.
The 500th aircraft produced is a US Air Force F-35A, which will be delivered to Air National Guard Base in Burlington, Vermont. The 500 F-35s include 354 F-35A, the conventional take-off and landing variant (CTOL), 108 F-35B, the short take-off and vertical landing variant (STOVL), and 38 F-35C, the aircraft carrier variant (CV), delivered to the United States and international customers. The 250.000 flight hours were achieved by all F-35s in the fleet, including aircraft used for development phase testing and training, operational fighters, US and international aircraft.
"This important achievement testifies to the capabilities and dedication of joint government, military and industrial teams," commented Greg Ulmer, Lockheed Martin's vice president and general manager of the F-35 program. "The F-35 offers unprecedented fifth generation combat capability, at the cost of a fourth generation aircraft."
The F-35s are currently operating in 23 bases around the world and have over 985 pilots and over 8.890 maintenance workers trained to date. Nine nations use the F-35 from their bases, while eight military forces have declared Initial Operating Capability and four have employed the F-35s in combat operations.
