F-35 Archives

An F-35C Lightning II, attached to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, prepares to make an arrested landing on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) on Jan. 24, 2026. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Cesar Zavala)

F-35C pilot downs Iranian drone to defend USS Abraham Lincoln, Centcom says

The jet, an F-35C Lightning II, launched from the USS Abraham Lincoln, which was transiting the Arabian Sea roughly 500 miles from Iran’s southern coast, U.S. Central…

Feb 3, 2026 By Drew F. Lawrence

Lockheed Martin rendering of a Next-Generation Air Dominance platform

Air Force, Navy should work more closely to develop 6th-gen fighter, senator says

“I think it helps if we can jointly build whatever the next system is. I think that would be a positive thing," said Sen. Mark Kelly.

Dec 9, 2024 By Mikayla Easley

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin addresses hundreds of sailors aboard the USS George Washington at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, on Dec. 9, 2024. (Photo by Brandi VIncent)

Aboard Japan-based carrier with stealth fighter jets, Austin spotlights China as top threat

Docked in Japan, the USS George Washington is currently the only forward-deployed U.S. aircraft carrier anywhere in the world.

Dec 9, 2024 By Brandi Vincent

Gen. Mark Kelly briefs reporters at the Air and Space Forces Association’s 2022 Air, Space and Cyber conference. (Photo by Brandi Vincent)

‘It won’t end well’ if US lags in sixth-gen air dominance, Air Combat Command chief says

Challenges around software and integration must first be overcome for NGAD to come to fruition, Gen. Kelly told reporters this week.

Sep 22, 2022 By Brandi Vincent

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115 aviation ordnance technicians load compatible software for a U. S. Air Force Guided Bomb Unit 38 to be employed on a U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet proof of concept mission at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, March 14, 2022. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Master Sgt. Christopher Parr)

Opinion: Defense software requires infrastructure too

Chris Lynch, founding director at Defense Digital Service, shares why it's important for the Department of Defense to invest in the infrastructure to power its software needs.

Aug 4, 2022 By Chris Lynch