Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley plans to reveal his choice of a name for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter by June 30, according to the Dallas Morning News. Yet, Richard Whittle reports, that the name may not see light of day until early July, when Lockheed Martin is trying to arrange for President Bush to visit the company’s Fort Worth production facility. According to Whittle, the favored name is Lightning II, after the P-38 Lightning of World War II fame.
Three of four congressional committees with influence over defense policy have voted to change the official name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War—but final approval of the Pentagon rebrand is months away and not yet assured.