Harking back to World War II’s mass-produced fleets of fighters, bombers, and cargo aircraft, the Los Angeles Times reports that the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter will be the first assembly line produced military aircraft in a generation. Northrop Grumman will have one line in Palmdale, Calif., to assemble the fuselages, which then will go to prime contractor Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Tex., where another line will mate the fuselages to other parts. Northrop anticipates turning out one center fuselage per day. The companies plan to establish the assembly lines over the next few years.
F-15E Aviator Missing in Iran Rescued by US Forces
April 5, 2026
The second crew member of the F-15E shot down April 3 has been rescued from Iran. U.S. forces recovered the aviator alive and all American forces involved in the operation are believed to be safe, U.S. officials told Air & Space Forces Magazine.