Nichols Martin
Lockheed Martin recorded a range of testing, sales and performance milestones achieved by the F-35 aircraft in 2021.
The previous year saw Switzerland and Finland joining the F-35 customer base and Denmark receiving its first F-35 unit, the company said Monday.
The Netherlands also became the ninth country to declare initial operational capability of the jet in 2021.
Lockheed reported that the F-35A demonstrated mission-capable rates of over 80 percent in the year, with 93 percent of F-35 parts having performed better than expected.
The company attributes the milestones to digital technologies that supported the aircraft’s sustainment and the 142 deliveries in the recently concluded year.
“We’re embracing digital transformation to enable faster development and continuous deployment of software, using digital models and supercomputers to augment physical test data with simulation-based verification and automating data processes to save time and glean insights that improve sustainment,” said Bridget Lauderdale, Lockheed’s vice president and general manager for the F-35 program.
The F-35 aircraft also took part in various military exercises and demonstrations in 2021, including Orange Flag, Talisman Sabre and Northern Edge.
