Navy F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters has been integrated into carrier air wing training flight operations for the first time with aircraft from Carrier Air Wing 7 on the USS Abraham Lincoln.

The F-35C naval variant has been doing testing since 2014, but this is the first time it has flown with an operational wing, the Navy announced on Tuesday. It performed with F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growlers and E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes. Previous tests had the plane operating separately.

The tests demonstrated "how the airplane handles on the aircraft carrier, how we do maintenance, how we sustain it while we're at sea. And then how it integrates with the ship, how it interoperates with communications, data links, other aircraft, and then how we conduct the mission and tie into the other aircraft that are conducting that mission and how effective they are when they do it," Rear Adm. Dale Horan, director of Joint Strike Fighter Integration for the Navy, told reporters aboard the Lincoln during the test.

The F-35Cs came from both Strike Fighter Squadron VFA 125 and VFA 147 based out of Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.

The F-35C was originally projected to reach operations combat status off of aircraft carriers by August 2018, but the goal has been delayed. Horan said that it will more likely meet it's minimal qualifications by early next year.

"We are moving in that direction and we will see. We'll get together after this and see how it went and see if we think things are lining up and whether we can meet that. If we can't, we'll make a decision and change that schedule," Horn said.

"Right now it seems that we're moving in that direction," he said.

United Technologies contracted for F-35 engine production tooling
Washington (UPI) Aug 28, 2018 –

United Technologies Pratt & Whitney Military Engines has received a $14.5 million for a contract on Lot 11 F-35 Lightning II F-135 engine production tooling.

The contract, announced Monday by the Department of Defense, provides for engineering services on the F-135 engine, including tooling unique components and machines needed for production of the F135 engine.

Work will be performed in East Hartford, Conn., Indianapolis, Ind., and Bristol, United Kingdom, and is expected to be completed in July 2021. Fiscal 2016 and 2017 Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and foreign military sales funding of $14.5 million will be obligated at time of award, $8.7 million of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year.

The F-35 is a 5th-generation multi-role stealth fighter that is is being acquired by the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps to replace and supplement much of their air fleets. Partner nations such as Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia and others are participating in the program.

Three different variants are being produced to meet each services and international customers needs and is expected to enter full service and production over the next several years.