Videos: Panetta Visits Pax

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h53bpkEty6k]

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta visited the Joint Strike Fighter hangar at Naval Air Station Patuxent River Friday to announce that the Pentagon is removing the short take off and vertical landing variant of the next generation fighter jet from probation, saving it from possible cancellation. The STOVL F-35B Lightning II is undergoing testing at Pax River and is planned to be the Marines’ primary strike aircraft in coming decades.

Congressman Steny Hoyer introduced Panetta who then thanked several local community members, including Bonnie Green, the Patuxent Partnership‘s executive director, for their service to and support of the base and the JSF program.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRLQ8Ue9K4A]