Lockheed Martin has completed assembly of the first production F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and, on Feb. 19, moved it out of the factory in Fort Worth, Tex., to tank it up on fuel. The first F-35 off the assembly line is USAF’s conventional takeoff and landing version, which is slated to begin flight tests this fall. First, though, it must go through extensive ground testing.
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
