Lockheed Martin [LMT] last week reached its 2010 goal of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter 394 test flights, a target jointly established by the Pentagon and the company.
Since the first flight of the F-35 on Dec.15, 2006, the program has logged a total of 531 flights, expanding the performance envelope of the three F-35 variants and testing the mission systems, Lockheed Martin said yesterday.
“We exceeded our 394-flight goal and expect to meet our overall test-point goal this year by reaching ahead and working 2011 test points,” said J.D. McFarlan, Lockheed Martin vice president for F-35 test and verification.
McFarlan acknowledged that the B-model, a short take-off/vertical landing (STOVL) variant being built for the Marine Corps, is behind schedule on testing.
“While we are still behind on our overall STOVL variant testing, we are working through a plan to get us back on track,” he said.
In November, the program completed 60 flights against a plan of 51. Both the F-35B the F-35A conventional takeoff and landing variants exceeded their monthly flight targets. The F-35C carrier variant jet fell just two flights short of its plan, according to Lockheed Martin.