The F-35 is ready for combat

To the almost 9,000 people in the Fort Worth area who work on Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter jet program, the news that the aircraft is now officially combat ready is a big deal.

On Friday, the U.S. Marines declared the nation’s most technologically complex combat fighter to be ready for flying and fighting, great news after a series of setbacks and disappointments plagued the aircraft and delayed its expected completion date by five years.

Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Joseph Dunford said recent evaluations show the F-35 is “capable of conducting close air support, offensive and defensive counter air, air interdiction, assault support escort and armed reconnaissance.”

U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, called it “a milestone for the defense of our country.”

And the nascent success of the $400 billion program is also a great milestone for Fort Worth.

Locally, more than 13,000 people work for Lockheed Martin, and once additional testing on the F-35 is completed, the company is expected to hire more employees, enough to produce about 120 aircraft a year.

The program is also a source of pride for Fort Worth.

This story was originally published August 5, 2015 at 5:58 PM with the headline "The F-35 is ready for combat."