Lockheed Martin,
PARIS: Lockheed Martin, along with artists representing the nine F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter countries, unveiled nine original works of art at the Paris Air Show today depicting the F-35 Lightning II aircraft in settings around the globe. “Artistry In The Skies: F-35 Lightning II on Exhibit” captures the F-35 in some of the world's most notable and culturally important destinations in each of the Joint Strike Fighter program's participant countries.
“Imagine the unique partnership this incredible program brings together, both militarily and industrially, across nine sovereign nations stretching from Northern Europe to the Mediterranean, across the Balkans, through the Americas and into the Southern Pacific,” said Tom Burbage, Lockheed Martin executive vice president and general manager of F-35 program integration. “This exhibit depicts the F-35 in each of the Joint Strike Fighter program partner countries and launches an international effort to highlight the great benefits of global partnership, technological innovation and design and the unique blending of cultures and requirements that has created this benchmark for true global cooperation.”
Artists from the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark and Norway joined Burbage and F-35 Program Executive Officer Brig. Gen. Charles R. Davis for the unveiling of this exhibit of paintings of the F-35 Lightning II shown amidst their own country's landmarks and landscapes. “The exhibit symbolizes the multi-national dimension of the program including the current partner countries and all those who will fly the aircraft in the future,” said Burbage.
Along with the F-22, the stealthy and supersonic Lightning II is one of two 5th generation fighters in the world. The first F-35 is undergoing airborne testing and has completed 19 flights to date. Eleven additional Lightning II test aircraft currently are in production. Lockheed Martin is developing the Lightning II 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 Fighter Engine Team F136.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 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 2006 sales of $39.6 billion.
