Gen. William Fraser said he’s happy with the current status of the F-35 fighter. The Air Combat Command boss said Wednesday at AFA’s Air & Space Conference, “I’m encouraged by what I’m seeing in some of the … tests out at Edwards. … They are meeting the test points … and numbers of sorties.” He said all indicators are now “pointing in the right direction.” However, ACC will “continue to stay very engaged with joint program office” to make sure “we … have our voice heard” about the fighter’s progress and capabilities, added Fraser. The Air Force will fly the lion’s share of F-35s in the US, with some 1,763 of a planned 2,443.
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.