According to RAdm. Steven Enwold, Joint Strike Fighter program director, the original first test flight date of Aug. 28 has shifted to sometime in October. He also reminded lawmakers at a Senate hearing Tuesday that the first production model to enter flight-testing will be somewhat heavier than later models.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
