The first Italian-made F-35B rolled off the production line on Friday, marking the first time a short take-off/vertical landing variant was produced outside the US. The jet, built in a facility owned by the Italian Ministry of Defense and operated by Leonardo, will take its first flight in late August and will be delivered to the Italian military in November, according to a Lockheed Martin release. Italy has already received seven F-35As, four of which are based at Luke AFB, Ariz., for training. The Italian Final Assembly and Check Out facility in Cameri will produce 30 Italian F-35Bs and 60 Italian F-35As, along with 29 F-35As for the Royal Netherlands Air Force, the release states.
B-52 Engine, Radar Upgrades Hit New Milestones
Sept. 15, 2026
The Air Force’s program to re-engine the B-52H Stratofortress has moved from its technology maturation and risk reduction phase to engineering and manufacturing development, marking a new milestone in the sweeping overhaul of the Cold War-era bomber, a top official said Sept. 15.
