The production of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter – the world's most sophisticated and expensivecombat aircraft – has been derailed after engineers discovered that the jet's fuel tank could explode if struck by lightning.

F-35战机-最昂贵和成熟的战斗机 生产计划被搁浅，主要是因为工程师发现油箱一旦被雷击，会瞬时爆炸。

The disclosure is a major setback for the aircraft, also known as the Lightning II, which is due to enter service with both the RAF and the Royal Navy by 2018.

这一曝光将为该战机发展摄下庞大障碍。

Attempts to increase fuel efficiency by reducing the jet's weight have also made it more vulnerable to enemy attack than the generation of aircraft it was supposed to replace.

由于为了提高燃料效率，把原有的机载重量减轻，可致敌人袭击更易得手

The damaging findings were disclosed in a Pentagon document which revealed that a fault within the JSF's fuel tank could potentially lead to catastrophic explosion if the aircraft was struck by lightning in a thunderstorm.

五角大楼的一项文件曝光F-35很容易在雷暴天气出现油箱爆炸的情况

The report from the Pentagon's Operational Test and Evaluation Office states that all test flying within 25 miles of thunderstorms is "not permitted" until a device in the fuel tank which maintains correct oxygen levels is redesigned.

这导致至今F-35所有的测试飞行都不能在风暴的25里范围内进行

• expensive [ik´spensiv]   a.费钱的，昂贵的   (初中英语单词)
• lightning [´laitniŋ]   n.闪电 a.突然的   (初中英语单词)
• generation [,dʒenə´reiʃən]   n.发生；世代；同龄人   (初中英语单词)
• supposed [sə´pəuzd]   a.想象的；假定的   (初中英语单词)
• replace [ri´pleis]   vt.放回；复置；取代   (初中英语单词)
• device [di´vais]   n.装置；器具；策略   (初中英语单词)
• oxygen [´ɔksidʒən]   n.氧，氧气   (初中英语单词)
• fighter [´faitə]   n.战士；战斗机   (高中英语单词)
• combat [´kɔmbæt]   v.&n.斗争；战斗；争斗   (高中英语单词)
• efficiency [i´fiʃənsi]   n.效力；效率；有能力   (高中英语单词)
• document [´dɔkjumənt]   n.公文；文件；证件   (高中英语单词)
• explosion [ik´spləuʒən]   n.爆炸；爆发；发作   (高中英语单词)