The last JSF, known as CF-19, was the first F-35C (aircraft carrier variant) delivered to the Marine Corps.
The fighter will be assigned to the VFA-101 "Grim Reapers" of the 33 ° Fighter Squadron stationed at the Eglin base in Florida. The CF-19 will be used for training pilots on the F-35C.
Each F-35 is made up of 300 thousand components, made in 46 USA states and in ten other countries in the world.
Here are the 36 F-35 delivered in the 2014:
23 F-35A - United States Air Force2 F-35A - Royal Australian Air Force 4 F-35B - United States Marine Corps7 F-35C - US Navy and US Marine Corps
The 36 F-35 Lightning II have been assigned in the following bases:
19 - Luke Air Force Base, Glendale, AZ14 - Eglin Air Force Base, Valparaiso, FL2 - Air Station Marine Corps, Beaufort, SC1 - Marine Station Air Corps, Yuma, AZ.
The 'C' model costs around 130 million dollars, but Lockheed aims to lower the price to 96 million dollars by the 2018.
The Pentagon should buy 2400 Joint Strike Fighter for a total cost of 400 billion dollars, the 70 per cent more than the original projections and for more aircraft. The production contract for the Joint Strike Fighter was awarded to Lockheed in the 2001.
To date, 109 fighters have been delivered while development and testing continues. About 100 F-35 pilots have been trained at Englin, including British and Dutch aviators. Much of the training was performed on the simulators, because the aircraft's software is not yet ready.
The Air Force will reach the initial operational capacity of the F-35A as soon as the first squad consisting of 12-24 aircraft will be formed, with trained aviators and crews able to perform close air support missions, interdiction and limited suppression and destruction of enemy anti-aircraft defenses.
The F-35A will reach full initial operational capability between August and December of the 2016.
The Marine Body equipped with the F-35B will reach initial operational capability as soon as the first 10-16 aircraft squadron has been formed, with infantry and trained crew to carry out close missions, interceptions, armed reconnaissance missions and support with land forces. The F-35B will achieve full initial operational capability between July and December of the 2015.
Us Navy, finally equipped with the F-35C, will achieve full initial operational capability as soon as the first 10 airplane squadron has been formed with personnel trained and trained military personnel and pilots. The F-35C will achieve full initial operational capability between August 2018 and February 2019.
Franco Iacch
(photo: Lockheed Martin)
