The US is combining two halves of the "Lightning" fighter jet to create a new F-35 aircraft.

The US combined two halves of an F-35 to create a new F-35 fighter jet (Photo: The Drive).

The Drive reports that parts from two F-35A aircraft damaged in previous accidents have been reassembled by the US to create a fully operational aircraft.

The project's goal is to repair and repurpose severely damaged F-35s to create new, usable fighter jets.

The aircraft, nicknamed "Franken-bird," is being reassembled at the Ogden Aviation Logistics Complex (OALC) at Hill Air Force Base in Utah.

The Joint Project Office (JPO) for the F-35 program leads the collaboration program with various units within the OALC, as well as the 388th Fighter Squadron and the contractor Lockheed Martin.

The two aircraft that were reassembled have airframes numbered AF-27 and AF-211. The AF-27 suffered a serious engine fire at Eglin Air Force Base in 2014, destroying two-thirds of the aircraft's rear. Investigators later estimated the damage to the aircraft exceeded $50 million.

In June 2020, AF-211 lost its nose landing gear while landing at Hill after a routine training mission.

The US decided to combine the rear two-thirds of the AF-211's airframe and the nose section of the AF-27 to create a new fighter jet.

The F-35 fighter jet is considered the hope of the US military aviation because it combines the elements of a powerful combat weapon such as radar stealth capabilities, impressive speed, high maneuverability, and a modern sensor system.

The US has developed the F-35 into three different variants: the F-35A for the Air Force, the F-35C for the Navy, and the F-35B for the Marine Corps.

However, the F-35 is also a controversial weapon due to its longer-than-expected development time and the numerous technical issues, ranging from simple to serious, that have driven up the project's costs significantly, making it the most expensive fighter jet in the world .

The project's goal is to utilize usable parts from severely damaged fighter jets to create a new fighter jet (Photo: The Drive).

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/my-ghep-2-nua-tiem-kich-tia-chop-thanh-may-bay-f-35-moi-20231202205726016.htm