F-35 contract
The business section of today’s Telegraph reports that Rolls-Royce has been awarded contracts to build and maintain lift fan systems for the F-35B. The new equipment will allow the new stealth fighter to hover and land vertically. The article reports that Rolls-Royce has said the 3 contracts are worth £290 million. The article goes on to say that the aircraft is the most expensive defence project and the British versions of the jet will fly off the Royal Navy’s new Queen Elizabeth class carriers, which are expected to come into service in 2020. A video of the F-35B in action can be found here.
Colchester Court case
The Telegraph and the Times both feature today the expected story of the sentencing of an RAF serviceman who shot a friend with a pistol on tour of Afghanistan while demonstrating a “party trick” at Camp Bastion in December 2013. Liam Gadsby was found guilty of malicious wounding by an RAF panel at Colchester.
An RAF spokesman said:
Firstly our thoughts remain with the injured RAF serviceman who remains under medical care.
With regard to the court martial, the RAF takes weapons safety very seriously and can confirm that Senior Aircraftman Gadsby has been sentenced to 3 years' imprisonment and discharge from the RAF.
![The UK’s first A400M Atlas has been named “City of Bristol” by the Royal Air Force in a rare honour to highlight the important role industry in the city has played in the delivery of the aircraft. Click here to read more. Pictured, the RAF Atlas A400M aircraft named 'City of Bristol' flies over the Clifton Suspension Bridge. [Picture: Airbus]](https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2015/02/DFeb-10-POD.jpg)