Andrea Shalal writes that the U.K. requested that the aircraft make an appearance at the Royal International Air Tattoo and the Farnborough air show in July.
The Defense Department‘s F-35 program office is evaluating the safety, logistical and security aspects of the fighter jet’s international debut and trans-Atlantic flight.
Reuters reports the British government invested $2 billion to support the joint striker fighter program and intends to buy 138 F-35s, according to Shalal’s article.
The U.S. government is interested in seeing how the plane’s logistics, maintenance, aerial refueling and security systems work overseas.