Lockheed Martin showed off its F-35 Lightning II mobile cockpit demonstrator Tuesday to Hawaii military representatives, then to business leadersand elected officials as the newest stealth fighter gets closer to operational capability, and eventually, a big role in the Pacific.
The cockpit demonstrator was at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam last week for Hawaii-based commands to check out, including U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Pacific Air Forces and Marine Corps Forces Pacific, officials said.
"We’re pleased to demonstrate to elected officials and community leaders in Hawaii the capabilities of the F-35 Lightning II, the most advanced fighter jet in the world," Eric Van Camp, director of F-35 business development for Lockheed Martin, said of Tuesday’s event.
"Hawaii is home to the U.S. Pacific Command and with its strategic location plays a significant role in our military strategy," Van Camp said in a news release. "The F-35 provides our forces with the next generation capabilities they must have in today’s complex global security environment."
Three variants of the airplane that’s been labeled the Pentagon’s most expensive weapons system have been developed for the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps.
According to website defensetech.org, the Marine Corps short-takeoff and vertical landing version, the F-35B, is scheduled to reach initial operating capability this year, followed by the Air Force’s conventional-takeoff F-35A in 2016, and the Navy aircraft carrier variant, the F-35C, in 2019.
The Navy version has been pegged at as much as $337 million per aircraft as part of a $400 billion program for 2,443 aircraft.
The Air Force said the F-35 is designed to replace its F-16s and A-10s, Navy F/A-18s and Marine Corps AV-8B Harriers and F/A-18s.
None of the multirole fighters is expected to be based in Hawaii, but the stealth jets could transit the area on ships or for exercises, according to officials.
The Navy announced in October that Naval Air Station Lemoore in California would eventually receive 100 F-35Cs to replace 70 F/A-18s by 2028. In the meantime, the Navy will continue to be heavily reliant on the F/A-18 Hornet.
Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska is expected to receive 48 of the aircraft.
South Korea is expected to buy 40 F-35s, Japan at least 42, and Australia 72.
Lockheed said the F-35 program has more than 1,200 suppliers in 45 states and Puerto Rico. Thousands of people are also employed in the F-35 program’s partner countries, including the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark and Norway, the company said.
