Lockheed Martin will exhibit a full-scale model of its F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter during The International Manufacturing Technology Show 2010, to be held September 13 to 18 at Chicago's McCormick Place.
The F-35 is a 5th generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations, advanced sustainment, and lower operational and support costs. Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 with both Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. Two separate, interchangeable F-35 engines are under development including the Pratt & Whitney F135 and the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team F136.
The new fighter is intended to be the world's premiere strike aircraft through 2040. The United States plans to buy 2,443 aircraft with a total of more than 4,000 F-35s forecast to be built for U.S. and foreign customers combined; the program's overall value is estimated at $323 billion, making it the largest defense program in history. For more information, visit www.imts.com.