The U.S. military’s cutting-edge F-35B Lightning II test aircraft, valued at approximately $109 million, experienced a severe setback after crashing in New Mexico shortly after a refueling stop.
The Defense Contract Management Agency pilot, who was flying the government-owned and operated jet, sustained serious injuries but is now in stable condition after ejecting.
According to official statements, the test jet, equipped with the Technology Refresh 2 (TR-2) system, was on a journey from Lockheed Martin’s facilities in Fort Worth, Texas, to Edwards Air Force Base in California.
This ill-fated journey was abruptly cut short southwest of Kirtland Air Force Base, which is located near the Albuquerque International Airport. The crash occurred at 1:48 p.m., resulting in the aircraft ablaze on an Albuquerque hillside.
“The aircraft was a developmental test aircraft being transferred from Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas, to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
The government accepted (DD-250) the aircraft in September 2023 and it was recently undergoing modification to add additional test equipment. The investigation is ongoing,” highlighted the F-35 Joint Program Office spokesman Russ Goemaere.
Footage of the wreckage went viral, showcasing the F-35B engulfed in flames and indicating the near-impossibility of salvaging the advanced fighter jet.
Response teams from local first responders were rapidly deployed to the site, and nearby roads were closed for extensive periods during the cleanup process. The jet’s crash marks the second loss of an F-35B within a year, emphasizing operational risks inherent in testing advanced military technology.
The F-35B variant, which incorporates vertical takeoff and landing capabilities, is specifically designed for use on amphibious assault ships and in short airfield operations.
This model’s flyaway cost was most recently estimated about $100 million each, with the entire F-35 program’s lifecycle cost now exceeding $1.7 trillion, factoring in extended operational timelines suggested by the Pentagon.
Accompanied by two United States Marine Corps F-35B aircraft from their training base at Beaufort, South Carolina.
The F-35B Lightning II will place the UK at the forefront of fighter technology, giving the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy a true multi-role all weather, day and night capability, able to operate from well-established land bases, deployed locations or the Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers.
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter will be known in UK service as the Lightning II. Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor but the UK is the only Level 1 partner with the US. A number of British companies, including BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce will have significant industrial work-share in construction and development of the aircraft. The Lightning II will provide UK Defence with a 5th Generation (low observable, supersonic, enhanced data fusion), multi-role, all weather, day and night aircraft that will have the ability to operate from land bases as well as the Queen Elizabeth Class carriers, the first of which is due to accept Lightning II onto her deck in 2018. This basing flexibility will give UK Defence a truly joint expeditionary Combat Air capability well into the 2030s. The RAF is the lead service for the operation of Lightning II and, like the Harrier before, the Joint Lightning II Force will be manned by both RAF and RN personnel.
Despite ongoing deliveries of jets equipped with the preceding TR-2 system, the F-35 program has experienced delays in upgraded TR-3 configurations due to technical challenges.
These interruptions, along with the test aircraft’s loss, could impact the program’s progression and timelines.
Lockheed Martin underscored the priority of safety and adherence to strict investigation protocols in response to the incident.
The investigation will seek to uncover the causal factors of the crash, as developmental test aircraft like this one play a pivotal role in evaluating system upgrades and other critical features.
This crash amplifies concerns regarding the F-35’s mission capability rates, which the Government Accountability Office reported as being “far below program goals.“
Relevant articles:
– F-35B Crashes in New Mexico, Pilot Hospitalized After Ejecting, USNI, 05/30/2024
– An F-35B test plane crashed into a New Mexico hillside while flying from a Lockheed Martin facility to a US airbase, Yahoo! Voices, 05/29/2024
– F-35 crashes off of airfield near Albuquerque airport, ABC News, 05/29/2024
– F-35B fighter jet crashes near Albuquerque International Sunport, KOB 4, 05/29/2024