2012年10月19日，美国加利福尼亚州中国湖海军航空武器试验场，美国空军第二架（AF-01）F-35A“闪电”II 常规起降型系统发展与验证机由马修·菲利普斯驾驶进行首次内部武器舱 AIM-120 中程空空导弹投射试验。（EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., Oct 22, 2012 – An F-35A test aircraft, flown by U.S. Air Force Maj. Matthew Phillips, completed the first aerial weapons release of an AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile) from a conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) aircraft, Oct. 19. The aircraft, known as AF-1, jettisoned the instrumented AIM-120 over the China Lake test range from an internal weapons bay. This was the second in-flight weapons release in three days for AF-1 as it completed the release of a 2,000 pound GBU-31 BLU-109 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) Oct. 16. The F-35A 5th Generation fighter is designed to carry a payload of up to 18,000 pounds using 10 weapon stations. The F-35A features four internal weapon stations located in two weapon bays to maximum stealth capability. The CTOL aircraft can also utilize an additional three weapon stations per wing if required.）

2012年8月17日，美国加利福尼亚州爱德华兹空军基地，美国空军第二架（AF-01）F-35A“闪电”II 常规起降型系统发展与验证机由瑞恩·莱因哈特驾驶进行机翼颤振飞行试验，以确保飞机的结构能够经受住各种气动载荷，测试结果显示F-35战机可在1.6马赫的速度下开启或关闭武器舱门。（EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., Feb 11, 2013 – An F-35A Lightning II conventional takeoff and landing aircraft, known as AF-1, completed its final test mission for clean wing flutter recently. Flutter testing was conducted to ensure the jet’s structure could withstand various aerodynamic loads verifying the F-35A’s design. The mission, flown by Maj. Ryan “Gunner” Reinhardt, marks the conclusion of three years of testing that now allows the F-35A to proceed with tests continuing to expand its flight envelope and validate predictions in real-world scenarios. The testing demonstrated the F-35 is clear of flutter, at speeds up to 1.6 Mach and 700 knots with weapon bay doors open or closed, critical to performing its combat mission. Data collected proves the F-35A flight dynamics maintains a large margin between its designed airspeed and airspeeds where possible flutter could occur.）

2012年2月28日，美国马里兰州帕塔克森特河海军航空站，美国海军陆战队第二架（BF-02）F-35B“闪电”II 系统发展与验证机进行垂直起降测试。（F-35 Lightning II Program Surpasses 5,000 Flight Hours，FORT WORTH, Texas, Dec. 3, 2012 – The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35 Lightning II program surpassed 5,000 flight hours last month. This milestone was reached by the combined F-35 System Development and Demonstration (SDD) aircraft flying at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., and the training aircraft flying at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. All three variants, the F-35A Conventional Takeoff and Landing (CTOL), the Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing (STOVL) and Carrier Variant (CV), participated in achievement of this goal.）

2011年5月21日，美国马里兰州安德鲁斯空军基地，美国海军第二架（CF-02）F-35C“闪电”II 舰载型系统发展与验证机由埃里克·布斯中尉驾驶在航展日飞越巨大的 C-5 战略运输机。这是联合攻击战斗机首次在航展上公开亮相。（ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. (May 21, 2011) An aircraft carrier variant of the F-35C Joint Strike Fighter flies over Andrews Air Force Base, Md., during the Joint Service Open House. This is the first public appearance of a joint strike fighter aircraft at an air show. Lt. Cmdr. Eric Buus piloted the aircraft. The F-35C is a fifth generation strike fighter with stealth capability and has larger wing surfaces and reinforced landing gear for the demanding carrier environment. The aircraft is undergoing test and evaluation at Naval Air Station Patuxent River.）

2011年5月21日，美国马里兰州，美国海军第二架（CF-02）F-35C“闪电”II 舰载型系统发展与验证机由埃里克·布斯中尉驾驶在航展日飞越安德鲁斯空军基地。这是联合攻击战斗机首次在航展上公开亮相。（ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. (May 21, 2011) An aircraft carrier variant of the F-35C Joint Strike Fighter flies over Andrews Air Force Base, Md., during the Joint Service Open House. This is the first public appearance of a joint strike fighter aircraft at an air show. Lt. Cmdr. Eric Buus piloted the aircraft. The F-35C is a fifth generation strike fighter with stealth capability and has larger wing surfaces and reinforced landing gear for the demanding carrier environment. The aircraft is undergoing test and evaluation at Naval Air Station Patuxent River.）

2011年5月21日，美国马里兰州，美国海军第二架（CF-02）F-35C“闪电”II 舰载型系统发展与验证机由埃里克·布斯中尉驾驶在航展日飞越安德鲁斯空军基地。这是联合攻击战斗机首次在航展上公开亮相。（ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. (May 21, 2011) An aircraft carrier variant of the F-35C Joint Strike Fighter flies over Andrews Air Force Base, Md., during the Joint Service Open House. This is the first public appearance of a joint strike fighter aircraft at an air show. Lt. Cmdr. Eric Buus piloted the aircraft. The F-35C is a fifth generation strike fighter with stealth capability and has larger wing surfaces and reinforced landing gear for the demanding carrier environment. The aircraft is undergoing test and evaluation at Naval Air Station Patuxent River.）

2011年5月21日，美国德克萨斯州沃思堡，美国海军第三架（CF-03）F-35C“闪电”II 舰载型系统发展与验证机首飞。（The third F-35 Lightning II carrier variant flight test aircraft, designated CF-3, launches from Naval Air Station (NAS) Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base on May 21 on the way to completing its first test flight. CF-3 continues its flight testing in Fort Worth, preparing to fly to NAS Patuxent River, Md., later this year. Once there, it will join two other carrier variant aircraft and four short takeoff/vertical landing aircraft as part of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps flight test program.）

2012年12月1日，美国加利福尼亚州爱德华兹空军基地，美国空军AF-01号 F-35A 常规起降型系统发展与验证机在其第272次飞行时达到500飞行小时。（Second F-35A Reaches 500 Flight Hour Milestone，EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., Jan. 23, 2013 – The second Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter, known as AF-1, joined the 500 flight hour club recently during its 272nd flight. It joins AF-2 which passed the milestone June 26, 2012. The conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) fighter began flight operations when it made its inaugural flight Nov. 14, 2009. The F-35A flight test program has completed more than 43 percent of its overall test plan. Overall, the program’s three variants have achieved nearly 5,900 flight hours by 55 aircraft in the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) and Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) programs.）

2013年8月3日，美国马里兰州帕塔克森特河海军航空站，美国海军陆战队 F-35B 短距起飞/垂直降落型系统发展与验证机进行第500次垂直降落试验。（FORT WORTH, Texas, Aug.6, 2013 – The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft completed its 500th vertical landing August 3. BF-1, the aircraft which completed this achievement, also accomplished the variant’s first vertical landing in March 2010 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md.）

2011年1月11日，洛克希德·马丁公司向美国海军陆战队交付的第一架生产型 F-35B 短距起飞/垂直降落型联合攻击战斗机抵达佛罗里达州埃格林空军基地，这架飞机被分配给 VMFAT-501 战斗/攻击机训练中队。（The first two Marine Corps F-35B aircraft arrives at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., home of Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Jan. 11. Both aircraft were piloted by Marine Corps pilots from Fort Worth, Texas, and are planned to be used for pilot and maintainer training.）