Military Aviation

The Government of Canada has finalized an agreement with the U.S. government and Lockheed Martin to acquire 88 F-35 Lightning II fighter jets for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Valued at C$19 billion ($14.3 billion), the deal also includes associated equipment, sustainment setup and services and the construction of fighter squadron facilities in Bagotville […]

The officially retired F-117 stealth fighter will fly long into retirement, according to a Request For Information issued by the Air Force and uncovered by msn.com. In the document, the USAF is asking potential contractors to maintain an unspecified number of Nighthawks in stealthy flying condition until at least 2034. The type was retired from […]

Lockheed Martin has finalized a contract with the U.S government’s F-35 Joint Program Office for as many as 398 additional F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft. Valued at up to $30 billion, the agreement includes aircraft for the U.S. military, international partners and foreign military sales. The F-35s produced for the contract will be the first […]

China is hitting back at U.S. claims that one of its fighter pilots behaved recklessly in an intercept over the South China Sea last week. The Air Force released video on Thursday of a Chinese Navy J-11 flying close to one of its RC-135 intelligence-gathering aircraft. The Air Force claimed the intercept was unsafe and […]

Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky has announced that the U.S. Navy has authorized full-rate production of the CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopter. According to the company, the approval will increase production to more than 20 helicopters a year. The model is expected to remain in production through at least 2032. “Ramping up production of the […]

As often happens with such things, Sikorsky has lodged a formal protest of the Army’s decision to go with competitor Bell’s V-280 Valor as its Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA). Sikorsky, which is owned by Lockheed Martin, teamed with Boeing to offer the DefiantX. It is protesting the $232 million contract that will cover […]

The U.S. Department of Defense has announced that it will exercise an option for the production and delivery of 26 additional TH-73A training helicopters for the U.S. Navy. The award follows an initial $176 million contract from January 2020 for 32 TH-73As, a second $171 million award from November 2020 for 36 aircraft and a […]

Authorities at a regional airport in Oklahoma say an Air Force C-17 that dropped in unannounced last weekend may have caused serious damage to its runway. Stillwater Regional Airport issued a statement saying the C-17, which was dropping off a women’s college basketball team for a game at nearby Oklahoma State University, was heavier than […]

The U.S. Air Force has grounded its fleet of B-2 Spirit nuclear bombers following an incident that resulted in a B-2 making an emergency landing on Dec. 10. The aircraft was damaged on the runway at Missouri’s Whiteman Air Force Base and caught fire after landing. No injuries were reported and the accident investigation is […]

An F-35B Lightning II crashed while landing at Texas’ Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth on Thursday. The pilot ejected after the aircraft touched down and is believed to be in good condition. The accident occurred at approximately 10:15 a.m. local time. Lockheed Martin’s F-35 production line is located at Air Force Plant […]