Aircraft
U.S. Air Force Defends F-35A, Readies Fix for Grounded Jets
The service plans to repair 15 grounded F-35As by December; it will then implement the fix on 42 jets on Lockheed Martin's assembly line.
Those who fix and fly the F-35 Lightning II know it best, said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus. (Photo: Bill Carey)
Those who fix and fly the F-35 Lightning II know it best, said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus. (Photo: Bill Carey)

Ranking U.S. Air Force officers delivered a robust defense of the F-35 Lightning II on September 20, even as a limited number of A-model fighters remained grounded because of a fuel-tank insulation problem while others on the assembly line must be fixed. The service and manufacturer Lockheed Martin plan to repair the 15 grounded fighters by December.