By IANS,
New Delhi : The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II combat jet programme has been recognised for its “cutting-edge design and technology” with an award from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).
The AIAA Foundation board of trustees presented the award Thursday during the 2010 AIAA Aerospace Spotlight Awards Gala in Washington. AIAA is the world’s largest technical society dedicated to the global aerospace profession.
Lockheed Martin has offered the F-35 to the Indian Air Force (IAF) as part of its fifth generation fighter jet programme.
“This award reflects the dedication and innovation of those who have made the F-35 Lightning II fighter a reality and signifies a bright future as the program ramps up flight test and commences operational training in the months ahead,” said US Air Force Major General C.D. Moore, the acting programme executive officer for the F-35 Lightning II.
According to the award citation, the AIAA Foundation recognises the “cutting-edge design and technology of – and global collaboration involved in – the joint strike fighter, enabling a unique battle space capability for the future”. The AIAA Foundation annually recognises unique contributions and extraordinary accomplishments by organisations or individuals in aeronautics and astronautics.
“This award acknowledges the commitment of the F-35 team, and the revolutionary technology that make the F-35 the fighter of the future,” said Tom Burbage, Lockheed Martin executive vice president and general manager of the F-35 programme integration.
The F-35 is a fifth generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations, advanced sustainment 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 F136.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 136,000 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 2009 sales of $45.2 billion.