Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II
Lockheed Martin and its international partners developed the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) in three basic versions: the conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) F-35A, the short take-off/vertical landing (STOVL) F-35B and the carrier-variant (CV) F-35C. Since the first F-35A flew in December 2006, the fleet has racked up more than 155,000 flight hours, including more than 17,000 during development testing.
Delivery of production aircraft began in 2011 and the F-35B achieved initial operational capability (IOC) with the US Marine Corps in July 2015. The F-35A followed with the USAF in August 2016. The carrier-variant entered service with the US Navy in February 2019. More than 760 have been manufactured since production began in 2006.
First F-35B for Royal Navy’s 809 NAS on show at RAF Marham
The first F-35B to be assigned to the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm’s 809 Naval Air Squadron – which is being formally stood up today (December 8) as the UK’s second operational frontline Lightning II squadron at RAF Marham in Norfolk – has received special markings to celebrate the occasion
USMC’s legacy Hornet-equipped ‘Silver Eagles’ stand down
The USMC moved another step closer to phasing out its legacy Hornet fleet on November 9, when Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115 (VMFA-115) was deactivated at MCAS Beaufort in South Carolina
Israel scores F-35's first confirmed cruise missile kill
An Israeli Air Force-operated F-35I Adir (or ‘Mighty One’) has been credited with scoring the type’s first known air-to-air kill against a cruise missile on October 31, probably using an AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missile to achieve this feat
Wake turbulence cited as cause of USAF F-35A crash at Hill AFB
Full details of the Accident Investigation Board report into the loss of USAF F-35A Lightning II (15-5197/HL) from the 388th FW's 421st FS 'Black Widows' at Hill AFB, Utah, on October 19, 2022, have now been published
HMS Prince of Wales embarks on F-35B sea trials in the US
On October 11, a specially instrumented US Navy-operated F-35B Lightning II (168314/‘68’) landed aboard HMS Prince of Wales (R09) – the second of the Royal Navy’s two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers – thereby kicking off Developmental Test Phase 3 sea trials with the type on the warship
South Korea axes F-35B acquisition plan to grow F-35A fleet?
Seoul has requested a government-to-government Foreign Military Sale for the purchase of 25 fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II fighters has been approved by the US State Department
Almost half of US F-35s not airworthy
A highly critical US government report has revealed that almost half of the nation’s fifth-generation Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II stealth jets are unworthy at any one time.
UK MOD told to consider advantages of operating mixed F-35A/B fleet
The UK parliament’s Defence Select Committee was told that the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review set out plans for the UK to buy 138 F-35B Lightning IIs. As of May 1, 2023, the UK had taken delivered of 31 F-35Bs, with a total of 48 due to be delivered by the end of 2025 as part of an initial Tranche 1 order
World first as F-35A jets land on road
Footage has been released of two F-35A Lightning II stealth jets landing and taking off from a public road as part of a NATO exercise.
EXCLUSIVE: List of Lakenheath’s 495th FS F-35 Valkyrie names
The F-35A Lightning IIs of the 495th Fighter Squadron (FS) at RAF Lakenheath have each been given the name of a Valkyrie from Norse mythology
