The first of Britain's next-generation stealth fighters touched down in the U.K. for the first time, the Royal Air Force announced Thursday.

The F-35B Lightning II was flown by RAF pilot and Squadron Leader Hugh Nichols across the Atlantic Ocean, accompanied by two U.S. Marine Corps F-35Bs, the RAF said in statement.

The jets took off from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C.

The team of American and British air crews and engineers arrived in the U.K. to demonstrate the 5th-generation aircraft's capabilities at the upcoming Royal International Air Tattoo and Farnborough International Air Show.

The jets are slated to enter service in the RAF and Royal Navy starting in 2018, the RAF said.

"They are part of our plan for a stronger and better defence: more ships, more aircraft, more troops available at readiness, better equipment for special forces, more being spent on cyber," Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said.

The Joint Strike Fighters will fly out of land bases and aircraft carriers, Air Commodore Harv Smith, the Lightning Force Commander, said.

Air Force awards two $1 billion contracts for next-gen engine
Washington (UPI) Jul 1, 2016 –

GE Aviation and Pratt & Whitney have each received U.S. Air Force contracts to develop the service's next generation of propulsion systems.

GE Aviation received a $919 million contract, with a total value, including a priced option, of over $1 billion. Work will be performed at Cincinnati, Ohio, and Arnold Engineering and Development Complex, Tenn., with an expected completion date of Sep. 30, 2021.

Pratt & Whitney was awarded an $873 million contract, with a total value, including a priced option, of over $1 billion. Work will be performed at Hartford, Conn., West Palm Beach, Fla., Arnold Engineering and Development Complex, Tenn., with an expected completion date of Sep. 30, 2021.

Each cost-plus-incentive fee contract is for designing, fabricating, integrating and testing multiple complete, flight-weight centerline, 45,000-pound thrust turbofan adaptive engines.

The Adaptive Engine Transition Program is working to mature fuel-efficient adaptive engine component technologies, while reducing associated risk in preparation for next-generation propulsion system development for several combat aircraft applications.

The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center is the contracting activity.

Hindustan Aeronautics hands over first Tejas jets
New Dehli, India (UPI) Jul 1, 2016 –

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited handed over the first two Tejas jets to India's air force Friday, the country's Aeronautical Development Agency announced.

The jets are the first two members of the "Flying Daggers" 45 squadron, which will be comprised of the Light Combat Aircraft, or LCA.

India's first indigenous light combat aircraft, in development since the early 1980s, is slated to replace the MiG-21 series and is a result of several years of design and development work between the agency and HAL.

The MiG-21 has been India's mainstay jet since the 1970s.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Twitter described the indigenous jet as a source of "unparalleled pride and happiness," and an illustration of the country's "skills and strengths" as he continues work to promote India's defense industry.

India's LCA is the smallest multi-role supersonic fighter jet of its class.

The single engine, single seat, compound delta wing jet will serve in the Indian air force and navy in the coming years, the agency said.