AF-1 and AF-2, two F-35A test aircraft, flew nonstop Monday from Lockheed Martin’s aircraft plant in Fort Worth, Tex., to Edwards AFB, Calif., completing the historic first multi-ship, long-range flight in the F-35’s history, according to the company. The arrival of AF-1 and AF-2 signals the expansion of F-35 flight test operations at Edwards, which is building up a test fleet of at least eight F-35s, the company said in a release. While at Edwards, AF-1 and AF-2 will undergo ground and flight testing involving propulsion, aerial refueling, logistical support, weapons integration, and flight-envelope expansion. The F-35 program has surpassed more than 200 test flights with activities to date in Fort Worth, Edwards, and at NAS Patuxent River, Md., the primary test site for the F-35B and F-35C variants. There are currently three F-35s flying at Pax River. (See also Edwards release)
House, Senate Unveil Competing Proposals for 2026 Budget
July 11, 2025
Lawmakers from the House and Senate laid out competing versions of the annual defense policy bill on July 11, with vastly different potential outcomes for some of the Air Force’s most embattled programs.