The F-35 can stealthily gather critical target information and relay it back to the Army, giving US ground forces an edge in a tough fight.
A top Russian official says Moscow is ready to sell Su-35 fighter jets to Turkey after the US excluded Turkey from its F-35 fighter jet program.
America's most expensive weapon ever is still facing some troubling problems as the Pentagon prepares to make the jump to full-rate production.
The Defense Department has a "handshake" agreement that would bring the price of each F-35A fighter below $80 million a year earlier than expected.
Parts of the flight recorder and cockpit canopy have been found, but key data that could explain what happened to the fighter is missing.
The downed aircraft marked the first time an international ally has lost an F-35.
A maritime survey vessel joining a navy ship and a US Navy salvage team is expected in the area in coming days, a Japanese air force spokesman said.