The Lockheed F-35A Lightning II has been pictured at Lockheed's Fort Worth facility. It wears serial number 69-8701 and is one of four aircraft planned to be delivered to Luke Air Force Base before the end of 2016. Luke is already hosting pilot training for Australia, Israel and Italy.
A further 38 F-35As will be manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Nagoya, with deliveries due to begin in 2017. The first Japanese F-35A unit will be Misawa Airbase.
Japanese Air Force Lockheed F-35A 69-8701 at the Lockheed Martin factory in Fort Worth (Japan Air Self Defense Force)