The development of the F-35C, the carrier-based variant of the F-35 Lightning II, spans several decades as part of the overall Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. Key milestones for the F-35C include:
Early program and contract award
- 1996: Lockheed Martin and Boeing are selected to produce demonstrator aircraft for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program.
- October 26, 2001: Lockheed Martin is chosen as the winner of the JSF contract to develop the F-35.
Flight testing and initial deployment
- June 6, 2010: The F-35C completes its first flight.
- November 3, 2014: An F-35C completes its first arrested landing on an aircraft carrier, the USS Nimitz, marking the start of its initial sea trials (Developmental Test-I).
- September 2015: Further sea trials (Developmental Test-II) are conducted aboard the USS Eisenhower.
- September 2017: The USS Carl Vinson conducts its first F-35C at-sea operations.
Operational status
- February 28, 2019: The U.S. Navy declares Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for the F-35C.
- August 2018: F-35Cs conduct their first integrated air wing test aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, simulating the balancing of flight deck operations with other aircraft.
- 2021: The first F-35C squadron, VFA-147, deploys aboard the USS Carl Vinson.
- January 3, 2022: The first U.S. Marine Corps F-35C squadron (VMFA-314) deploys aboard an aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln.
Overall F-35 program context
The F-35C's development is part of the larger, and often challenging, timeline for all three F-35 variants.
The F-35C's development is part of the larger, and often challenging, timeline for all three F-35 variants.
- Long-running program: The F-35 program has been in development for more than 22 years, with a major "modernization" effort (Block 4) ongoing.
- "Concurrency" issues: The decision to begin low-rate initial production in 2006, even as flight testing continued, led to costly retrofits as deficiencies were discovered.
- Challenges and delays: The program has faced a host of issues, including software delays, reliability problems, and logistics system overhauls. For example, a new maintenance network (ODIN) is replacing the troubled ALIS system, but with its own delays.
- Future outlook: Despite past issues, the F-35 fleet is now operational with numerous nations, with ongoing software and system upgrades planned to ensure it remains a formidable multi-mission fighter.
