Lockheed Martin unveils F-35C
The warplane is one of three variations of the F-35 that the Fort Worth-based Lockheed Martin in manufacturing for the Navy, Marines and the Air Force.
The F-35C, also know as the carrier variant, is made specifically for use on Navy air carriers. It has received high praise from officials as being the most sophisticated plane built to date.
"This airplane behind me will set new standards when it enters in the fleet," said Tom Burbage, the company's executive vice president.
Like the other variations of the F-35, the carrier variant combines stealth capabilities with supersonic speed and high agility -- all of which give the United States an upper hand, official said.
There are subtle differences between the F-35 carrier variant and its siblings. The Navy Joint Strike Fighter was made with an emphasis on durability to counterattack the rigor of sea.
The F-35C is expected to relieve the F/A-18 Hornet currently used by the Navy.
Once the airplane is in service, Roughead said the Navy and the United States would have a significant advantage over its enemies.
"The F-35 with its range, with its stealth and with its payload," he said, "you've just put an exclamation point on carrier aviation."
The plane is scheduled to enter the fleet by 2015 after going through the proper flight tests and training.
Lockheed Martin expects to ramp up production of the F-35 program in the next few years, and Burbage said he expects the program to increase jobs at the Fort Worth facility.
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