Lockheed Martin announced Wednesday that it has finished full-scale static testing of the F-35A, the conventional takeoff and landing version of the F-35 strike fighter. This testing was completed five months ahead of schedule, in less than half the time of legacy programs—and with “zero structural failures,” stated the company. “This was a major milestone, and the test results demonstrate that the F-35 has a fantastic airframe,” said Mick Ord, BAE Systems’ F-35 managing director. BAE is one of Lockheed’s principal F-35 industry partners. The static tests began last August and were conducted predominantly at BAE Systems’ facility in Brough, England, using AG-1, a dedicated F-35A test aircraft. The testing verified the strength and stability of the aircraft’s structure to 150 percent of its design limits, or 13.5 G’s. The F-35A is the configuration that the Air Force is buying.
Secretary of Defense Austin Lloyd III met with his counterparts from Australia, Japan and the Philippines to discuss bolstering defense ties on May 2. The discussion included plans for joint F-35 exercises with Japan and Australia in the coming years.