The Joint Strike Fighter program may celebrate a very public milestone—being given its official name—this Friday when Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley plan to formally unveil the first production F-35 at a ceremony at prime contractor Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth, Tex., facility, reports the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The paper confirms earlier speculation, saying that “heavy betting” among aerospace industry officials leans toward Lightning—or rather Lightning II.
China thinks it will be able to invade Taiwan by 2027 and has developed a technology edge in many key areas—but it is artificial intelligence that may be the decisive factor should conflict erupt, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said.