FORT WORTH, Texas, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Senior
Japanese and U.S. government officials joined Lockheed Martin
(NYSE: LMT) to celebrate the roll out of the first Japan Air Self
Defense Force (JASDF) F-35A Lightning II, marking a major milestone
in Japan's enhanced national
defense and strengthening the future of the U.S-Japan security alliance.
The ceremony was attended by more than 400 guests from both
governments, militaries and defense industries.
Kenji Wakamiya, Japan's State Minister of Defense spoke at the
event, saying, "With its low observability and network capability,
the F-35 is the most advanced air system with cutting-edge
capability as a multi-role fighter. As the security environment
surrounding Japan has become
increasingly severe, because of its excellence, it is very
significant for the defense of Japan to commit to acquiring the F-35 year by
year. Given that the United States Government has designated
Japan as a regional depot in the
Asia-Pacific area, introduction of
F-35A to Japan is a perfect
example, enhancing the Japan-US alliance."
Gen. Yoshiyuki
Sugiyama, JASDF Chief of Air Staff, said, "The F-35A
has remarkably advanced system. This highly sophisticated
5th generation fighter will bring a great development to
air operations as a game changer. In integration with current JASDF
assets, it surely promises to enormously contribute to not only the
benefit of our national defense and but also regional
stability."
Other distinguished guests attending included: Dr. Hideaki Watanabe, commissioner of
Japan's Acquisition, Technology
and Logistics Agency, Frank Kendall,
undersecretary of defense for Acquisition, Technology and
Logistics, Gen. Terrence
O'Shaughnessy, commander of U.S. Pacific Air Forces, and
Marillyn Hewson, Lockheed Martin
chairman, president and CEO.
"The men and women of Lockheed Martin are honored to bring the
exceptional capability of the F-35A to our partners and friends in
Japan," said Hewson. "The security
alliance between Japan and
the United States has been a
cornerstone of peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region for generations, and we
are proud to continue that legacy of cooperation with the rollout
of the first F-35A to the Japan Ministry of Defense and the Japan
Air Self Defense Force today."
Japan's F-35 program includes
42 F-35A Conventional Take Off and Landing aircraft, acquired
through the U.S. government's Foreign Military Sales program. The
first four aircraft are built in Fort
Worth and the remaining 38 aircraft will be built at the
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Final Assembly & Check-Out facility
in Nagoya, Japan, where aircraft
assembly is underway. Maintenance training for the first JASDF
F-35A technicians is underway at Eglin
AFB, Florida, and the first JASDF F-35A pilots are scheduled
to begin training at Luke AFB,
Arizona, in November.
Three distinct variants of the F-35 will replace the F-16
Fighting Falcon and A/OA-10 Thunderbolt II for the U.S. Air Force,
the F/A-18 Hornet for the U.S. Navy, the F/A-18 and AV-8B Harrier
for the U.S. Marine Corps, and a wide variety of fighters for at
least 11 other countries. Following the U.S. Marine Corps'
July 2015 F-35B Initial Operational
Capability (IOC) 'combat-ready' declaration, the U.S. Air Force
declared F-35A IOC on Aug. 2 and the
U.S. Navy intends to attain F-35C IOC in 2018. More than 200
fleet-wide F-35s have flown almost 70,000 flight hours, to
date. Japan's first F-35A aircraft completed its maiden
flight from Fort Worth on
Aug. 24, piloted by Lockheed Martin's
F-35 test pilot Paul
Hattendorf.
For additional information about the F-35 program, visit our
website: www.f35.com.
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a
global security and aerospace company that employs approximately
98,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research,
design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of
advanced technology systems, products and services.
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SOURCE Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company