"The F-35 program executive officer, has stated that the 'F-35 enjoys a significant Combat Loss Exchange Ratio advantage over the current and future air-to-air threats, to include Sukhois, which are currently being flown by the Russian, Indian, and Chinese Air Forces.'"
- Maj Gen Charles R. Davis, USAF, the F-35 program executive officer

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a fifth-generation, single-seat, single-engine, stealth-capable military strike fighter, a multirole aircraft that can perform close air support, tactical bombing, and air superiority fighter missions. The F-35 has three different models; one is the conventional takeoff and landing variant, the second is short takeoff and vertical-landing variant, and the third is a carrier-based variant.

The F-35 is descended from the X-35, the product of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. Its development is being principally funded by the United States, with the United Kingdom, and other partner governments providing additional funding. It is being designed and built by an aerospace industry team led by Lockheed Martin with Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems as major partners. Demonstrator aircraft flew in 2000, with the first flight on December 15th, 2006.

The F-35B Lightning II is the Marine Corps variant of the Joint Strike Fighter and features a vertical lift fan and pivoting engine nozzle to deliver vertical landing and short takeoff capability to expeditionary airfields. The F-35 will replace AV-8B Harrier IIs in the Marine Corps inventory.

Designed to operate from austere bases and a range of air-capable ships with its short takeoff/vertical landing capability, the F-35B can also takeoff and land conventionally from longer runways on major bases. F-35B aircraft have been delivered to the U.S. Marines and the U.K., whose forces are training together at the Integrated Training Center at Eglin Air Force Base. STOVL aircraft are also stationed at the first operational F-35 base, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., and are completing flight test at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. The Italian Air Force will also operate the B-variant. The F-35B has a Lift Fan just behind the cockpit and an engine that can swivel 90 degrees when in short takeoff/vertical landing mode. Because of the Lift Fan, the STOVL variant has smaller internal weapon bay and less internal fuel capacity than the F-35A. It uses the probe and drogue method of aerial refueling.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a Royal Air Force Lockheed-Martin F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter that was attached to No.207 Squadron, then embarked upon the HMS Prince of Wales during June 2021, in accordance with its Sea Acceptance Trials. Now in stock!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 5-3/4-inches
Length: 8-1/2-inches

Release Date: January 2024

Historical Account: "Operational Conversion Unit" - On July 5th, 2017, it was announced by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Stephen Hillier, at RAF Marham that No.207 Squadron would be the Operational Conversion Unit for the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning, being chosen due to its heritage as both a RNAS and RAF unit.

No.207 Squadron arrived at RAF Marham from MCAS Beaufort on July 16th, 2019, with six Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightnings (ZM137, ZM139, ZM149, ZM150, ZM151 and ZM152) shortly before its reformation date of August 1st. No.207 Squadron made their first sortie from Marham on July 29th. Wing Commander Scott Williams is the new squadron's first Officer Commanding who raised the squadron pennant when it stood up on August 1st. On January 28th, 2020, No.207 Squadron became the first UK unit in a decade to operate jets in home waters from a British carrier - flying from HMS Queen Elizabeth.

On November 17th, 2021, a Royal Air Force F-35B, identified as ZM152, crashed during routine operations from HMS Queen Elizabeth. Early reports suggested some of "the covers and engine blanks" had not been removed before takeoff. The wreckage, which had broken into multiple pieces, including all security sensitive equipment, was largely recovered with the assistance of U.S. and Italian forces.