It’s considered the most advanced and lethal aircraft in the history of the United States Navy. The Lockheed Martin F-35C made its inaugural flight earlier this week.
According to Vice Adm. Thomas J. Kilcline, Commander of Naval Air Forces, “This flight marks the beginning of a new chapter” for the Navy.
The F-35C will become the first stealth aircraft operating from a big-deck carrier. “Wherever on the world’s oceans we position a 98,000-ton nuclear carrier, we can launch a long-range stealth strike fighter with the ability to defeat the most sophisticated air defenses,” said Tom Burbage, Lockheed Martin executive vice president and general manager of the F-35 integration program.
The $4 billion F-35 development project was made possible by partner countries, including the U.K., Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark and Norway.
