CF-2, the second F-35C test aircraft in the US Navy’s carrier-based configuration, has flown for the first time, announced prime contractor Lockheed Martin. Company F-35 test pilot Bill Gigliotti flew the aircraft on its maiden mission April 29 from NAS Fort Worth JRB, Tex. CF-2 is scheduled to fly to NAS Patuxent River, Md., later this year, where it will join CF-1, the first F-35C test aircraft, and four Marine Corps F-35B test aircraft in flight test activities. Air Force F-35A test aircraft are operating out of Edwards AFB, Calif. (Lockheed photo caption by Randy Crites)
A provision in the fiscal 2025 defense policy bill will require the Defense Department to include the military occupational specialty of service members who die by suicide in its annual report on suicide deaths, though it remains to be seen how much data the department will actually disclose.