The Pentagon could decide soon whether to allow the F-35 fighter aircraft to fly outside the U.S. for the first time and appear at two U.K. air shows, Reuters reported Tuesday.Andrea Shalal writes that the U.K. requested that the aircraft make an appearance at the Royal International Air Tattoo and the Farnborough air show in July.
The Defense Department‘s F-35 program office is evaluating the safety, logistical and security aspects of the fighter jet’s international debut and trans-Atlantic flight.
Reuters reports the British government invested $2 billion to support the joint striker fighter program and intends to buy 138 F-35s, according to Shalal’s article.
The U.S. government is interested in seeing how the plane’s logistics, maintenance, aerial refueling and security systems work overseas.
