"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-35C combines this unique capability of operating from a carrier deck with the unmatched 5th Generation capabilities of stealth, fused sensors and reliability, making the F-35C the Navy?s future first-day-of-the-war strike fighter.

The Navy and Marines require an aircraft capable of overcoming a variety of threats - surface-to-air missiles, air-to-air missiles and tactical aircraft. By leveraging this potent combination of stealth, advanced jamming and threat system destruction, the F-35C enhances survivability and increases mission success rates.

The F-35C variant has larger wings and more robust landing gear than the other variants, making it suitable for catapult launches and fly-in arrestments aboard naval aircraft carriers. Its wingtips also fold to allow for more room on the carrier?s deck while deployed.

The F-35C also has the greatest internal fuel capacity of the three F-35 variants. The F-35C carries nearly 20,000 pounds of internal fuel for longer range and better persistence than any other fighter in a combat configuration. And, like the F-35B, the F-35C uses probe and drogue refueling. This allows the Navy to operate its carriers a safe distance from the threat while its fighters reach remote targets.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a US Navy Lockheed-Martin F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter that was assigned to VFA-147 "Argonauts", then embarked upon the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) during 2021. Item en route to us!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 7-1/4-inches
Length: 8-1/2-inches

Release Date: December 2023

Historical Account: "The Argonauts" - Strike Fighter Squadron 147 (VFA-147), also known as the "Argonauts," is a United States Navy strike fighter squadron based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California (USA). VFA-147 was established on February 1st, 1967, and flies the F-35C Lightning II, becoming the first non-training F-35 squadron in the U.S. Navy.

After 40 years of having been assigned to CVW-9, VFA-147 was reassigned to CVW-14 aboard the USS Ronald Reagan for two deployments in 2010 and 2011. The following year, the Squadron was deployed to CVW-11 aboard USS Nimitz. VFA-147 participated in exercise RIMPAC 2012 and began a scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean on March 30th, 2013. After two extensions and after supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, VFA-147 returned home on December 12th, 2013.

VFA-147 was selected to be the first operational Squadron to transition to the F-35C in January 2018. On March 1st, 2019, it was announced that VFA-147 was to transfer from Carrier Air Wing 11 to Carrier Air Wing 2 for USS Carl Vinson's next deployment. Carl Vinson left San Diego for her deployment on August 3rd, 2021, returning on February 14th, 2022.

The Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force hosts an annual gathering of naval forces from around the world with goal of strengthening their communications, coordination and operational tactics. In 2021, five countries participated, JMSDF, Canada, Germany, the Royal Australian Navy and the USN. These operations were carried out in the Philippine Sea between November 21st-30th, 2021. One group representing the USN was VFA-147 "Argonauts" onboard the USS Carl Vinson. The F-35C 169304 of VFA-147 that took part in ANNUALEX 2021 was lost on January 24th, 2022 due to pilot error.