Article Posted on : - May 14, 2010

Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II aircraft. Lockheed Martin Photo.

TEXAS (BNS): The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has presented the AIAA Foundation award to Lockheed Martin for its “cutting-edge design and technology” for the F-35 Lightning II programme.

The 2010 AIAA Aerospace Spotlight Awards Gala was organised by AIAA on May 12 in Washington, D.C.

“This award reflects the dedication and innovation of those who have made the F-35 Lightning II fighter a reality and signifies a bright future as the programme ramps up flight test and commence for operational training in the months ahead,” U.S. Air Force Major General C.D. Moore, the acting program executive officer for the F-35 Lightning II Program Office, said in an official press release.

According to the AIAA group, “the award recognises the cutting-edge design and technology of – and global collaboration involved in – the Joint Strike Fighter, enabling a unique battle-space capability for the future.”

The AIAA Foundation Board of Trustees is the world’s largest technical society dedicated to the global aerospace profession. They annually recognise unique contributions and extraordinary accomplishments by organisations or individuals in aeronautics and astronautics.

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a 5th generation fighter aircraft. It has a combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations, advanced sustainment, and lower operational and support costs.