Pacific Air Forces chief Gen. Lori Robinson has set up an “F-35 Integration Office” for her command, even though deployment of the fighter in the Pacific is still potentially years away. Robinson, speaking with defense writers in Washington, D.C., said the office will build on the experience of flying the stealthy F-22 in the Pacific theater, and begin laying the groundwork for a joint employment doctrine, since the Marine Corps, Australia, Japan, Korea, and potentially other Pacific region partners will also operate the jet. The Marine Corps has already signed on to participate with the office, as it will be first in theater to deploy the F-35, she said.
Anduril and General Atomics will develop their Collaborative Combat Aircraft for the Air Force, beating out Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, the service announced on April 24. But any of the non-selected companies can compete to actually manufacture the eventual design, the Air Force said.