F-35A

Yeah.

2007, right around the time Vishnu, uh, first and then I were looking at the aircraft, Lockheed Martin briefs the Indian Air Force on the F-35A as part of a long-term strategy while pushing the F-16 for the, our favorite MMRCA competition.

2008, the offer, and I'm putting quotes around the word "offer," becomes deeper engagement.

Technical discussions expand with both the Indian Air Force and Navy, featuring detailed presentations and visits by Indian defense officials.

Yeah.

And we will [laughs] circle back to this.

2023, public demonstration, two US Air Force F-35A stealth fighters make their historic debut at the Air India show in Bengaluru.

2025, when President Trump becomes president once again, he s- declares the intent to pave the way to providing the F-35 to India, triggering a formal US policy review on releasing the fifth generation platforms to Delhi.

Um, so first it became a, a trillion-dollar program, uh, back in, uh, as far as a program of record back in, God, what was it? 2012, 2011, something like that.

Um, so, uh, it's actually, the latest projection puts it at almost $2 trillion, um, and that's mainly because it's o- operating the F-35A, uh, for a shorter period.

So, uh, okay, you got me.

It's a $2 trillion program now over 50 years.

She's a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel and became the first woman to fly the F-35 in 2015.

And her experience, it includes the F-15E, the F-35A, instructor, evaluator, squadron, group leadership.

I mean, just such a cool person.

She's a continuing contributor, teaching simulator sessions, academics to F-35A pilots.

And this is really an example of operational experience benefiting the pilots who follow.

She's also a 99.

Speaking to reporters in Ottawa on March 13th, McGinty said Canada was considering full membership.

The move comes amid strained Canada-United States relations over security and trade, including scrutiny of Canada's procurement review involving its first batch of F-35A fighters.

A December 2025 report attributed to Canadian High Commissioner in London, Ralph Goodale, said participation in GSAP would build on, rather than replace, the planned F-35 purchase.

He described it as a progression, with access to restricted project materials to follow if observer status is granted.

And big deal, you might say, they fixed some potholes in a runway.

So what? Well, this is a big deal because if you remember back to mid 2025 at the NATO summit, then Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the purchase of a bunch of new F-35A fighter jets, which can carry both nuclear and conventional weapons.

and that Britain will join NATO's dual-capable aircraft nuclear mission.

Now, the decision they claimed would support 20,000 jobs in the F-35 program in the UK, with 15% of the global supply chain for the jets based in Britain.

With the MQ-9 Reaper drone used for intelligence and surveillance and reconnaissance of closed air support aircraft, in combat search and rescue, accounting for more than half of the losses.

But also on the list are some of Pentagon's most prized assets, including an F-35A fighter jet And an E-3 Sentry, you know, that's a four-engine jet with a large radar dome on top of the fuselage used for target tracking and airspace management.

I'm waving my hand above my head like you see this little circle of fuselage, I mean, of radar tracking above my fuselage.

The total cost of the aircraft loss is between $1.9 billion and $3.3 billion, depending on the Defense Department's plans for replacements, citing figures from the Congressional Budget Office.

Morons.

F-35A stealth fighter was damaged.

List includes KC-135 refueling tankers, damaged or lost.

81 planes.

Yeah, it is.

Um, some of our programs here that we've supported the Department of Defence on, uh, again, some of the more notable ones, uh, in the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group and include the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter program, uh, various patrol boat programs, and the Jindalee Operational Radar Network.

Great.

Well, we'll get to them in just a sec, but I f- I first wanted to come through to your, uh, stand at Land Forces this year.

They flew an F-35 for the first time.

Um, the Aviationist is reporting that the Royal Canadian Air Force's first F-35A flew for the first time, marking a milestone in Canada's controversial fighter acquisition program to replace the CF-188 Hornet fleet.

It happened at NAS Jelly Beach, Fort Worth, where Lockheed Martin, uh, facilities are based.

The construction number is AR1, will be des- designated the CF-35A in service for the Royal Canadian Air Force.

And they had an F-35C acting a safety chase, which to me seems a little bit excessive.

Yes.