Lockheed Martin has announced that the global F-35 fleet has exceeded 1 million flight hours, demonstrating the program's scale and effectiveness in maintaining air superiority for American and allied forces worldwide.
"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," said Lt. Gen. Michael Schmidt, Program Executive Officer for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office. "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."
Over the course of 1 million flight hours, the F-35 team has notably advanced the capabilities of the F-35, accomplishing numerous groundbreaking achievements in aviation with the world's most sophisticated fighter aircraft.
"The F-35 is the backbone of the allied force, enabling peace through strength in the 21st century," said Chauncey McIntosh, vice president and general manager of the F-35 Lightning II program at Lockheed Martin. "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."
The 1 million flight hours include combat operations now completed by all F-35 variants following the F-35C being deployed in combat for the first time in November 2024, successfully striking targets in contested airspace.
The F-35 team is currently concentrating on achieving the next one million flight hours for the expanding global fleet of over 1,100 jets. Their goal is to ensure that the F-35 continues to uphold its role in air superiority and remains a key element of air dominance, working in conjunction with other 4th, 5th, and next-generation platforms. This effort encompasses the ability to manage drones, including the U.S. Air Force's forthcoming fleet of Collaborative Combat Aircraft.
"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," McIntosh added.
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