"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 USMC Lockheed-Martin F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter that was attached to VMFA-225 "Vikings", then deployed to Yuma Marine Corps Air Station, Arizona, during 2023. Pre-order! Ship Date: November 2024.

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

Release Date: ?

Historical Account: "Viking Invasion" - VMFA(AW)-225 was the first Marine Corps fighter squadron deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The squadron was deployed in January 2003 from its home base at MCAS Miramar in San Diego, CA to Ahmed Al Jabar Air Base in Kuwait. From Kuwait, the "Vikings" took part in Operation Southern Watch, assisting the US Air Force in patrolling the Southern No-Fly-Zone set up by the United Nations in Iraq. In March 2003, VMFA(AW)-225 began flying combat sorties in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Joining 225 were other members of Marine Aircraft Group 11.VMFA (AW)-225 also deployed in support of OIF in 2007-2008 at Al-Asad Air Base in Iraq.

The Vikings conducted their final Hornet flight on January 23rd, 2020, and are to transition to the F-35B Lightning II The unit officially transitioned on January 29th, 2021.