F-35 fighters over Edwards Air Force Base in a file photo. Darin Russell/Courtesy Lockheed Martin/via REUTERS
Reuters: Lockheed F-35 deliveries were halted for 30 days: Pentagon
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon halted shipments of Lockheed Martin Corp’s F-35 fighter jets for 30 days this fall after it discovered corrosion around fasteners and a fix was devised, the Pentagon and Lockheed said on Wednesday.
During routine maintenance at Hill Air Force Base in Utah, the Air Force detected “corrosion exceeding technical limits” where the carbon fiber exterior panel is fastened to the aluminum airframe. A lack of protective coating at the fastening point that would have prevented corrosion was identified as the primary problem, the Pentagon said.
The fastener issue on the current F-35 fleet is not affecting flights, nor is it a safety concern, the Pentagon said. Lockheed is investigating the extent of the corrosion issue across the fleet of more than 250 jets deployed to the U.S. military and its allies.
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More News On The Pentagon Halting F-35 Deliveries For 30 Days Due To Corrosion Issues
Minor quality control issue creates new problem for F-35 enterprise -- Defense News
Pentagon Discloses New Quality Glitch on Lockheed's F-35 Jets -- Bloomberg
Corrosion Issues Spur Pentagon to Halt F-35 Deliveries -- Sputnik International
