Photo Album - Next Generation Fighter Capability

Next Generation Fighter Capability

Over the Pacific Ocean

A Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CF-18 hornet from 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron in Bagotville, Quebec, gets refueled by a RCAF CC-130 Hercules air-to-air refueller from 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron, Winnipeg, Manitoba, over the Pacific Ocean near Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, in Honolulu, Hawaii on July 25, 2012.

1,400 Canadian sailors, soldiers, and airmen and airwomen participate in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2012 combined and joint exercise, taking place near the Hawaiian Islands from June 29 to August 3. Scheduled and coordinated by the U.S. Navy Third Fleet, RIMPAC also offers Canada the senior members of the Canadian Forces the opportunity to assume positions of leadership, further enhancing Canada’s ability to work with other nations of the Asia-Pacific region. RIMPAC 2012 involves forces from Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) is the world’s largest international maritime exercise, designed to prepare military forces to work together in missions ranging from providing humanitarian aide to full combat operations. RIMPAC began as an annual exercise in 1971 and since 1974 has been scheduled every other year. The endurance of exercise demonstrates the value of bringing international forces together to train and improve their ability to operate in a joint and combined multi-national force environment. Canada, along with only Australia and the United States, has participated in RIMPAC since its inception.

Canadian Forces photo by : MCpl Marc-Andre Gaudreault

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Honourable Julian Fantino, Canada's Associate Minister of National Defence, received his latest update regarding the continued progress of the multinational Joint Strike Fighter Program during a successful meeting with program partners.

Photo: Lockheed Martin Corporation

Norway’s State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Roger Ingebrigtsen, received an up-close view of the F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) flight test program during a visit to Edwards Air Force Base, California, on February 29, 2012.

During the tour, Secretary Ingebrigtsen received briefings on F-35A flight test operations from pilots and maintainers working on the CTOL program, and also observed an F-35 flight. He was joined by 13 Norwegian journalists, who traveled to view flight operations and speak with Norwegian military personnel supporting CTOL operations at the base. Norway is one of nine partners in the international Joint Strike Fighter Program.

Photo: Lockheed Martin Corporation

The first night flight in the history of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Program was completed Wednesday at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Piloted by Lockheed Martin Test Pilot Mark Ward, AF-6, an F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant, launched at 5:05 p.m.

Lockheed Martin F-35A Performs First Night Flight
FORT WORTH, Texas, Jan. 19, 2012 - The first night flight in the history of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Program was completed Wednesday at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Piloted by Lockheed Martin Test Pilot Mark Ward, AF-6, an F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant, launched at 5:05 p.m. PST and landed after sunset at 6:22 p.m. The mission consisted of a series of straight in approaches in twilight and darkness. The pilot also performed an evaluation of the F-35's cockpit lighting which Ward called, "the best he's ever seen." The testing will clear the way for night refueling and formation testing later this year. Lockheed Martin photos by Tom Reynolds and Darin Russell

Photo: Lockheed Martin

Edwards F-35A Conducts First External Weapons Test Mission.

FORT WORTH, Texas, Feb. 20, 2012 - On Feb. 16, the first external weapons test mission was flown by an F-35A Conventional Takeoff and Landing (CTOL) aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., further expanding the program's flight test envelope. The weapons load for this mission involved carrying two air-to-air A IM-9X missiles on the outboard wing stations. In addition, the F-35 carried two internal 2,000-pound guided bombs (GBU-31) and two advanced medium range air-to-air missiles (AIM-120) inside the two internal weapon bays. No weapons were delivered during the mission. The jet also had mounted four external pylons that can carry 2000-pound air-to-ground weapons. The F-35A 5th Generation fighter is designed to carry up to 18,000 pounds on 10 weapon stations featuring four weapon stations inside two weapon bays, for maximum stealth capability, and an additional three weapon stations on each wing.

Photo: Lockheed Martin by Paul Weatherman

The Honourable Julian Fantino, Associate Minister of National Defence, highlights an important milestone in Canada's contribution to the multinational Joint Strike Fighter program at Acorp in Delta, British Columbia.

Minister Fantino discussed Canada's decision to participate in the development of new state-of-the-art F-35 aircraft with its allies to replace its aging CF-18 fleet, and the additional work our participation creates for Canadian workers. Today workers celebrated the crating of Canadian manufactured outboard wings for the F-35 Carrier Variant in service.

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in formation with a US Marine F-18.

Photo: Lockheed Martin

Edwards F-35A Conducts First External Weapons Test Mission.

Photo: Lockheed Martin by Paul Weatherman

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Photo: Lockheed Martin

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Photo: Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin F-35A Performs First Night Flight.

FORT WORTH, Texas, Jan. 19, 2012 - The first night flight in the history of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Program was completed Wednesday at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Piloted by Lockheed Martin Test Pilot Mark Ward, AF-6, an F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant, launched at 5:05 p.m. PST and landed after sunset at 6:22 p.m. The mission consisted of a series of straight in approaches in twilight and darkness. The pilot also performed an evaluation of the F-35's cockpit lighting which Ward called, "the best he's ever seen." The testing will clear the way for night refueling and formation testing later this year.

Photo: Lockheed Martin by Tom Reynolds and Darin Russell

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in flight.

Photo: Lockheed Martin

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Photo: Lockheed Martin

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in flight.

Photo: Lockheed Martin

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter's cockpit.

Photo: Lockheed Martin

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter using afterburner.

Photo: Lockheed Martin

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in flight.

Photo: Lockheed Martin

Fort Worth, Texas - Two Lockheed Martin F-35As are poised for takeoff to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. They officially arrived at the base on Wednesday afternoon, August 31, 2011.

Fort Worth, Texas - Two Lockheed Martin F-35As are poised for takeoff to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. They officially arrived at the base on Wednesday afternoon, August 31, 2011. AF-10 and AF-11 completed the 90-minute flight marking the ninth and tenth F-35 deliveries of 2011. The pair of conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) jets will be used for training pilots and maintainers at Eglin's new F-35 Integrated Training Center.