Lockheed Martin has showcased its F-35 Lightning II mobile cockpit demonstrator to state and local elected officials, local suppliers and employees at Northrop Grumman Corporation, a partner on the F-35 program.

"We're pleased to demonstrate the capabilities of the F-35 Lightning II, the worlds' most advanced multirole fighter aircraft, to our California supplier companies, elected officials and other local stakeholders," said Danny Conroy, Director, USAF F-35 Program, Lockheed Martin Washington Operations.

"These people are vital to the success of this program so it's important that they have an opportunity to experience, firsthand, the superior performance capabilities of this 5th Generation, multirole fighter.

For more than a decade, the U.S. and our allies have invested in the development of the F-35, which will serve as a cornerstone of global security for many years to come. Additionally, the F-35 program will significantly impact the U.S. economy, directly and indirectly, generating over 130,000 jobs."

With nearly 300 suppliers in California, the F-35 program will provide over 27,000 direct and indirect jobs and more than $6 billion in economic impact across the state. These employment figures and economic impact numbers are anticipated to increase as the program reaches full-rate production.

"Northrop Grumman has been a member of the Southern California community for over 70 years," said Michelle Scarpella, vice president of the F-35 program for Northrop Grumman. "We employ more than 1,800 people here on the F-35 program alone, and our California supplier sales commitments in 2011 totaled more than $144 million.

"The F-35 program is a critical element to our success in this region, and we are proud to host the cockpit demonstrator here."

During the event, executives and employees from Northrop Grumman and other F-35 supplier companies, elected officials and community leaders received an update on the status of the program as well as the opportunity to "fly" the F-35 cockpit demonstrator and experience firsthand, how advanced stealth, fighter agility and integrated information will enable pilots to survive and operate effectively in projected threat environments of the future.

The cockpit is visually and audibly interactive and provides a realistic look at the F-35's performance, air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities, sophisticated sensor fusion and advanced computational capabilities.

The F-35 program has suppliers in 45 states and directly and indirectly employs more than 130,000 people, building and sustaining a highly skilled workforce critical to national security and economic prosperity. Additionally, thousands more are employed in the F-35 partner countries, which include the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark and Norway.