Boeing X-32B JSF Demonstrator

In 1996, the Joint Strike Fighter program awarded $750 million contracts to Boeing and Lockheed Martin to design and build two demonstrators each, one for conventional takeoff and landing for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy and one for the Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing capability required by the U.S. Marine Corps. Boeing's conventional demonstrator was the X-32A and its STOVL aircraft was the X-32B. In 2000 and 2001, Boeing's X-32s and Lockheed's X-35A and X-35B were evaluated in flight trials at Edwards AFB and NAS Patuxent River. Neither design had weapons capability or low-observable stealth provisions. Lockheed's concept was chosen for further development and received the contract that led to today's F-35. The sole X-32B first flew on 29 March 2001 and was never assigned a Navy Bureau Number. After initial testing at Edwards AFB, it moved to NAS Patuxent River and took part in Joint Strike Fighter flight trials between May and July 2001. In March 2005, it was transferred to PRNAM after completing 78 flights and logging 43 flight hours.

Maryland · United States