More Than 1,100 All Variants Currently Operate Worldwide

Lockheed Martin announced that the global F-35 Lightning fleet has surpassed 1 million combined flight hours, proving the program’s strength and reliability through A, B, and C variants as well as significant enhancements that have achieved numerous unprecedented aviation firsts.

The variants are all single seat aircraft with differing takeoff and landing capabilities: the F-35A is conventional takeoff and landing, the F-35B is the STOL version, and the F-35C is the carrier version.

Lt. Gen. Michael Schmidt, Program Executive Officer for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office said,?"Reaching 1 million flight hours is a monumental achievement for the F-35 program. It highlights the unwavering dedication of our pilots, maintainers, industry partners and our international partners and foreign military sales customers.

“This milestone is not just a testament to the F-35's unmatched capability, but also to the resilience and commitment of everyone involved in this program. As we continue to expand the fleet and advance the F-35's capabilities, we are ensuring the warfighters of today and tomorrow have the most advanced, reliable, and effective tool to protect our nations."

The F-35 team is focused on enduring the F-35 maintains air superiority and continues to be the foundation of air dominance while working with 4th, 5th, and next-gen platforms. These include the ability to control drones, what the Air Force sees as the future of the fleet’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft.

Chauncey McIntosh, VP and General Manager of the F-35 Lightning II program at Lockheed Martin said, "The F-35 is the backbone of the allied force, enabling peace through strength in the 21st century. As we look to the future, we are focused on continuing to increase the capabilities of the F-35 to ensure we stay ahead of adversarial threats."

He added, “Not only is it the world's most advanced fighter jet, the F-35 also makes those fighting with it better by connecting the battlespace, ensuring the warfighter gets home safely."

FMI:  lockheedmartin.com/