The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II program is the only fighter program delivering 5th generation capabilities internationally, a Lockheed Martin executive said Tuesday at the Seoul Air Show.

"The F-35's 5th generation capabilities, including Very Low Observable stealth, integrated sensor fusion, net-enabled operations and advanced sustainment, make it the premiere fighter of the future," said Stephen O'Bryan, vice president of F-35 Business Development and Customer Engagement. "The F-35 is the only multi-role fighter designed for survivability in the highest-threat environments, and it provides superior capability at comparable 4th generation fighter costs."

The theme of O'Bryan's presentation, "Global Partners Building Global Security," reflects the high level of international participation and cooperation on the Joint Strike Fighter program. The F-35 will replace more than 13 aircraft types and enable allies to conduct seamless, integrated operations. Throughout its lifecycle, the F-35 will create enduring industrial relationships, from the production and global delivery systems to worldwide operation and support via Autonomic Logistics Global Sustainment (ALGS).

F-35 ALGS, developed in parallel with the aircraft and its systems, defines the F-35's total life-cycle sustainment system. In combination with the F-35's high level of reliability, ALGS is designed to reduce support costs significantly over the aircraft types it will replace. This embedded aircraft support system simplifies and streamlines maintenance, providing prognostics and health management to keep the aircraft mission-ready, using a worldwide support network and infrastructure. Recently, the F-35 Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS) Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) began monitoring BF-1, the first short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft, from the Lockheed Martin F-35 Sustainment Operations Center in Fort Worth, Texas. BF-1 is the first F-35 supported solely by ALIS.

The F-35 Lightning II is a 5th generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations, and lower operational and support costs. Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 with its principal industrial partners, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. Two separate, interchangeable F-35 engines are under development: the Pratt & Whitney F135 and the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team F136.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2008 sales of $42.7 billion.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin