Aircraft
F-35 Stamps Fifth-Gen Authority On Paris
JSF makes statements on the air and on the ground at the 2017 Salon du Bourget, where it was the star of the show.
The fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter at the 2017 Paris Air Show. (Photo: David McIntosh)
The fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter at the 2017 Paris Air Show. (Photo: David McIntosh)

It’s the star of the flying display, but the presence here of the fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter is not just for show. “Make no mistake, the F-35’s participation in the Paris Air Show is a clear sign of U.S. support to our NATO allies and coalition partners. It demonstrates our vested interest in security and stability across Europe and the fact that no nation confronts today’s security challenges alone.” So said Col. Todd Canterbury, director of the Air Force F-35 Integration Office in the Pentagon, here last Monday.