Lockheed Martin Clarifies Wire Service Story on Joint Strike Fighter

Published: Jun 19, 2004
Source: www.lockheedmartin.com



Bethesda, Md., June 18, 2004 -- A Reuters wire service story on June 17 mischaracterized a previously reported delay in the Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program.



Schedule information that was reported in the misleading article had been previously addressed several months ago. There are no new schedule developments in the JSF program. Since the President's budget was announced in February, Lockheed Martin and JSF program officials have stated -- and it has been widely reported -- that the first flight of the conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) aircraft was moving from the fall of 2005 to August 2006. This allows the first aircraft to take advantage of the design refinement efforts being made on the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft. The STOVL version is expected to fly in 2007.continue..