A stealth multi-role aircraft mastering air, land and electronic warfare.
The F-35B Lightning is a stealth aircraft operating alongside the Typhoon. A multi-role machine, Lightning is capable of conducting air-to-surface, electronic warfare, intelligence gathering and air-to-air missions simultaneously.
Role
Lightning (F-35B) is the next generation of combat aircraft that operates alongside Typhoon. Lightning is a multi-role combat aircraft that can conduct the roles and missions of different aircraft types simultaneously. For Lightning, this also includes air-to-air and air-to- surface, electronic warfare.
Technical Specifications
Specifications
Technical Specifications
Weapons Systems
Technical Specifications
Sensors
Capability
Lightning has advanced sensors, mission systems and low- observable technology, otherwise known as stealth that allows it to operate undetected in hostile environments. Using the integrated sensors, the pilot is provided with unprecedented situational awareness of the battle space.
The pilot is then able to share this information with other platforms using secure data links, or use this information to employ its weapons or electronic attack capability. Lightning is a short take-off and vertical landing aircraft that can operate from aircraft carriers and in austere environments. 617 Squadron reformed as the first front-line Lightning squadron in 2018, comprising RN and RAF personnel, followed by 207 Squadron – the Operational Conversion unit – in 2019. Lightning achieved its Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in December 2018 and became IOC (Maritime) in December 2020.
F-35B Lightning Recognition
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History of the F-35B Lightning
Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II is the result of decades of development starting with the US Navy’s 1983 Advanced Tactical Aircraft (ATA) program to replace the A-6 Intruder and DARPA’s Advanced Short Take-Off/Vertical Landing (ASTOVL) project, aimed at creating a supersonic successor to the Harrier. The ASTOVL and ATA programs evolved, merging into the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program by 1996.
Boeing and Lockheed Martin were chosen to produce demonstrators for a competitive fly-off. In 2001, Lockheed Martin won the contract with its X-35, which became the F-35 Lightning II. The UK joined as a key partner, selecting the F-35B STOVL variant for its Harrier replacement and its Queen Elizabeth-class carriers.
The UK received its first F-35B in 2012 and made RAF Marham the primary base for the aircraft. Squadron Leader Steve Long became the first British pilot to fly an F-35, on January 26, 2010 and in July 2012 the government announced its decision to purchase an initial batch of 48 aircraft. The first of these was delivered on July 19, 2012, for trials work, a task 17 (Reserve) Squadron assumed in 2014.
The first operational squadron, 617 Sqn, arrived in 2018. US Marine Corps F-35Bs joined UK jets for training ahead of HMS Queen Elizabeth’s first operational cruise in 2021, marking the start of joint UK-US carrier operations.
