An Air Force F-35A Lightning II recently flew with the next iteration Block 3i software and hardware upgrades required for initial operational capability in 2016, Lockheed Martin announced. The software Block, flown for the first time at Edwards AFB, Calif., on May 27, incorporated a new core processor and roughly 89 percent of the coding required for combat, according to the company. A Marine Corps F-35B fired the first live AIM-120 air-to-air missiles launched from a Lightning II against target drones over the Point Mugu test range off the California coast the same day, according to a company’s May 29 release.The combined F-35 operational and test fleets have logged more than 17,000 total flight hours to date. F-35s supporting the joint schoolhouse at Eglin AFB, Fla., have logged 5,000 flight hours, announced Lockheed. (F-35 software factsheet.)
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.