It’s official: The F-35 will not get a new engine anytime soon

It’s official: The F-35 will not get a new engine anytime soon
It’s official: The F-35 will not get a new engine anytime soon

After rancorous debate, a new engine for the stealth fighter was already in doubt, but legislation released by congressional appropriators today seemingly puts the issue to rest.

Honeywell unveils new F-35 thermal management fix as Pentagon hunts for better cooling

Honeywell unveils new F-35 thermal management fix as Pentagon hunts for better cooling
Honeywell unveils new F-35 thermal management fix as Pentagon hunts for better cooling

“Now that we understand that 80 kilowatts is a must-have, it was the mission of: how do we get there, with the lowest impact to the overall airframe?” Honeywell Aerospace’s Matt Milas told Breaking Defense in an exclusive interview.

Pentagon scales back F-35, F-15EX fighter buys in FY25 budget request

Pentagon scales back F-35, F-15EX fighter buys in FY25 budget request
Pentagon scales back F-35, F-15EX fighter buys in FY25 budget request

Across the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, the Pentagon will purchase 21 fewer fighter jets than originally expected for the 2025 fiscal year, dropping a planned buy of 107 to 86.

Air Force wants to retire 250 aircraft as part of $188B FY25 budget request

Air Force wants to retire 250 aircraft as part of $188B FY25 budget request
Air Force wants to retire 250 aircraft as part of $188B FY25 budget request

“We’re very, very fixated on being competitive with the pacing challenge [of China],” said Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall. “I think the budget that we’ve submitted moves us forward — not quite as fast as we would like to, but it moves us forward in the right direction while maintaining current capabilities that are essential to the nation.”

EXCLUSIVE: F-35A officially certified to carry nuclear bomb

EXCLUSIVE: F-35A officially certified to carry nuclear bomb
EXCLUSIVE: F-35A officially certified to carry nuclear bomb

The designation marks the first time that a stealth fighter can carry a nuclear weapon, in this case the B61-12 thermonuclear gravity bomb.

Singapore downplays defense spending hike, though with warning of instability

Singapore downplays defense spending hike, though with warning of instability
Singapore downplays defense spending hike, though with warning of instability

COVID-19 stalled defense programs, so money moves from last year to this, giving Singapore defense spending a single year bump of over 12 percent.

New Air Force Vice Chief has ‘passion’ for better data, wants industry help

New Air Force Vice Chief has ‘passion’ for better data, wants industry help
New Air Force Vice Chief has ‘passion’ for better data, wants industry help

Recently confirmed Gen. Jim Slife pledged to work on sharing data not only inside the Air Force but with his counterparts at the other armed services.

Singapore to buy 8 F-35As, expanding JSF fleet to 20

Singapore to buy 8 F-35As, expanding JSF fleet to 20
Singapore to buy 8 F-35As, expanding JSF fleet to 20

The move would set up the Singapore Air Force to join a small group of countries that operate both the A and B variants of the stealth fighter.

Aussie auditors: 38 years of defense procurement delays

Aussie auditors: 38 years of defense procurement delays
Aussie auditors: 38 years of defense procurement delays

A total of 20 programs, including F-35 fighter jets to future Hunter-class frigates, face a combined 38 years of procurement delays, according to a new government report.

Pratt & Whitney targets 2029 for upgraded F-35 engine deliveries

Pratt & Whitney targets 2029 for upgraded F-35 engine deliveries
Pratt & Whitney targets 2029 for upgraded F-35 engine deliveries

“Like all programs, the continuing resolution has the potential to have an impact. We have not worked through all the details if we had a sequestration scenario,” Pratt & Whitney’s Jennifer Latka said about a stalled budget on Capitol Hill. “What I know now is that our schedule is on track, that we have identified funding to continue, and that’s not to say that that situation cannot change.”

As the heat rises with F-35 upgrades, inside Collins’s bet on a new cooling system

As the heat rises with F-35 upgrades, inside Collins’s bet on a new cooling system
As the heat rises with F-35 upgrades, inside Collins’s bet on a new cooling system

In a tour of Collins Aerospace’s facilities, executives said their new thermal management solution for the F-35 achieved a key benchmark, though the Pentagon hasn’t yet decided on a competition at all.

Lockheed expects more F-35 upgrade delays, tempering 2024 deliveries

Lockheed expects more F-35 upgrade delays, tempering 2024 deliveries
Lockheed expects more F-35 upgrade delays, tempering 2024 deliveries

As many as 120 F-35s could be “undelivered” in 2024 as a result of delays with the stealth fighter’s Technology Refresh 3 upgrade, according to Lockheed Martin Chief Financial Officer Jay Malave.

From a suspected spy balloon to a missing plane: 5 air warfare stories from 2023

From a suspected spy balloon to a missing plane: 5 air warfare stories from 2023
From a suspected spy balloon to a missing plane: 5 air warfare stories from 2023

“How in the hell do you lose an F-35?”

After Hamas attack, US rushed new F-35 capabilities, parts to Israel: Officials

After Hamas attack, US rushed new F-35 capabilities, parts to Israel: Officials
After Hamas attack, US rushed new F-35 capabilities, parts to Israel: Officials

A wide-ranging hearing on the F-35 revealed new details on the aircraft’s current operations, as well as its developmental struggles, including its beleaguered TR-3 upgrade.