# F-35
Latest news and articles about F-35
Total: 14 articles found
US Sends 18 F-35s from UK to Middle East in a Show of Force Amid Iran Tensions
The U.S. Air Force flew 18 F-35A fighters from RAF Lakenheath to the Middle East on Feb. 16, supported by tankers and operating in three‑ship formations. The deployment is a significant, visible show of force meant to deter Iran and reassure regional partners amid heightened tensions.
US Sends 18 F‑35s From Britain to Middle East in Strong Signal to Iran
The US has sent 18 F‑35A fighters from RAF Lakenheath to the Middle East with tanker support, marking one of the largest recent F‑35 movements to the region. The deployment is a calibrated show of advanced airpower intended to deter Iran but carries risks of escalation and logistical strain.
After LDP Landslide, Singapore Issues Stark Warning on a Resurgent Japanese Militarism
Singapore has publicly criticized what it sees as the risk of a resurgent Japanese militarism after a commanding LDP election win, invoking wartime memories of the 1942 occupation. The response blends historical grievance with contemporary defence preparedness and sends a wider diplomatic signal about regional stability and the preservation of the postwar order.
US Flies 18 F-35s From UK to Middle East in Broad Signal to Tehran
Eighteen US F-35A fighters have flown from RAF Lakenheath to the Middle East with tanker support in one of the largest recent single movements of the type, a deployment CCTV links to tensions with Iran. The dispatch is a calibrated demonstration of deterrence, enabled by allied basing and long-range logistics, but it carries risks of escalation and sustainment challenges for US planners.
Dutch Defence Official Says F-35 Could Be ‘Jailbroken’ Like an iPhone — A Warning on Alliance Control and Risk
Netherlands defence official Gijs Tuinman suggested F-35 software and its cloud logistics could, in theory, be "jailbroken" to accept third-party updates, invoking a smartphone metaphor. The comment highlights tensions between partner sovereignty and the US-managed F-35 sustainment model, with legal, technical and diplomatic risks if operators try to modify systems outside approved channels.
Japan’s Big-Ticket U.S. Arms Purchases Marred by Delays and Defects — Audit Raises Questions About Strategy and Value
A Japanese Board of Audit review found extensive delays and maintenance problems in U.S. defence equipment bought through the Foreign Military Sales program, even as Tokyo increases spending to bolster its forces. The findings raise questions about the cost‑effectiveness, timing and strategic rationale of Japan’s heavy purchases of American arms.
New F-35 Deliveries Arrive Without Radar, Exposing Production and Readiness Fault Lines
A report says Lockheed Martin delivered recent F-35s without AN/APG-85 radars, and the mounting differences prevent fitting the earlier AN/APG-81 as a substitute. The deliveries could constrain the jets' combat roles, strain depots and suppliers, and prompt political and allied scrutiny of the F-35 programme.
Newest F-35s Reportedly Delivered Without Functional Radar, Raising Readiness and Industrial Concerns
A report says Lockheed Martin delivered a batch of F-35s since June 2025 without the AN/APG-85 radar installed, leaving only the radar pedestal and preventing simple retrofit with the older AN/APG-81. The gap could degrade readiness, increase retrofit costs and spotlight supply-chain and integration strains within the U.S. defense-industrial base.
Radarless F‑35s and Claims of 1,000 J‑20s: A Test of U.S. Production, Chinese Scale and Air‑Power Assumptions
A reported delay in new radars has left a batch of F‑35As delivered without their primary fire‑control sensors, limiting their beyond‑visual‑range capabilities and highlighting U.S. supply‑chain fragility. Parallel claims that China is ramping J‑20 production toward 1,000 aircraft underscore a narrative of shifting industrial balance, though the larger Chinese figures warrant cautious scrutiny.
Glimpse of High Stakes: Singapore Airshow’s Media Preview Spotlights F-35s, Apaches and China’s C919
The tenth Singapore Airshow held a media preview on February 1, featuring demonstrations by aircraft including an Australian F‑35A, Singaporean Apaches and a COMAC C919. The event highlights the airshow’s dual role as a defence showcase and commercial aviation marketplace, reflecting regional military modernisation and China’s ambitions in civil aviation.
Canada’s Fighter Pick at Crossroads: Saab’s Hybrid Fleet Proposal Ups the Stakes in F-35 Debate
Canada’s long-running fighter replacement programme is back in flux after Sweden’s Saab proposed a mixed fleet that would pair retained F-35s with Gripen E jets and GlobalEye AWACS. The offer emphasises lower acquisition and operating costs and promises local production and technology transfer, forcing Ottawa to weigh alliance interoperability and American political sensitivities against industrial sovereignty, Arctic surveillance needs and budget pressures.
U.S. Ambassador Threatens Ottawa: Spurn F‑35s and U.S. Fighters Will Patrol Canadian Skies More Often
U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra warned that Canada’s decision not to buy 88 F‑35 fighters would force changes to North American defence arrangements and lead to more frequent U.S. fighter operations in Canadian airspace. The remarks intensify a fraught Canadian procurement debate over interoperability, cost and sovereignty, and highlight the diplomatic leverage Washington can exert over allied defence choices.