AF-4, 
the fifth and final F-35A test aircraft, has arrived at Edwards AFB, Calif., for flight testing. Testers will use AF-4 in activities including high-angle-of-attack and air-start trials, according to an Edwards release. This airframe joins AF-1, AF-2, and AF-3, the latter of which touched down there in December, in supporting the F-35 program’s developmental test activities. AF-4 made its maiden flight from Lockheed Martin’s plant in Fort Worth, Tex., on Dec. 30. It arrived at Edwards on Jan. 22, according to a Lockheed release. AA-1, the first F-35A test aircraft retired to live-fire testing at the Navy’s China Lake test range in California after its final flight in December 2009. The F-35 program has achieved a total of 578 test flights thus far. That includes the Marine Corps’ F-35B and Navy’s F-35C test assets. The Air Force’s test program exceeded its target number of flights in 2010 and accomplished more specific test activities than planned, reported Australian Aviation Magazine.
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.