US military brings super fighter F-35 back to the sky

In preparation for the F-35 fighter jet’s debut in July, the US military decided on June 27 to resume flight operations for its F-35B super-fighter fleet after a fire broke out on an F-35A. This is the second incident to happen to this ambitious US fighter jet in less than two weeks.

The F-35 squadron is continuing to prepare for its debut in the UK next month, said US Navy spokesman Richard Ulsh. Accordingly, four F-35Bs landed at a military airport in Maryland on June 27 to make their first transatlantic flight.

F-35 aircraft. (Source: businessinsider)

However, the grounding order for the F-35A fleet remains in effect while inspections are still underway.

Earlier, on June 23, a fire broke out on an F-35A as a pilot was preparing to take off during a training flight. This incident forced the US Department of Defense to order the grounding of the entire F-35 fleet and raised questions about the readiness of this type of fighter.

The Air Force has yet to release any details about the results of the investigation. However, some sources said that engine parts were found on the runway at Eglin Air Force Base after the incident, suggesting that the fire may have occurred in the engine.

The F-35 is a multi-role aircraft that can carry out attacks on land, at sea and also conduct reconnaissance missions. The F-35 has three different versions: the F-35A, F-35B and F-35C. Of these, the F-35A can take off and land like a conventional fighter jet; the F-35B can take off and land vertically like a helicopter and the F-35C can be deployed on aircraft carriers.

All versions of the F-35 are equipped with superior stealth technology, capable of avoiding radar, reaching supersonic speeds and equipped with cameras that allow pilots to observe 360 ​​degrees from the cockpit to the ground. The F-35 made its first test flight on December 15, 2006.

The F-35 project has been hailed as a technological marvel that could dominate the skies. However, the project is now seven years behind schedule due to huge cost overruns. It is estimated that the additional cost of producing the F-35 has more than doubled the original estimate.

The Government Accountability Office reported on August 21, 2013, that the investment cost for the F-35 production has reached nearly $400 billion and will increase by another $12.7 billion each year. Countries participating in funding this project include the UK, Italy, Australia, Canada, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands and Turkey.

The US military plans to order a total of 2,443 F-35s of various types at a total cost of about 391 billion USD to equip the Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy. The transfer of these aircraft to the US military is expected to be completed in 2037. Japan, Israel, Singapore, South Korea and Türkiye have also placed orders to buy this generation of multi-role fighter aircraft./.

According to VNA