The United Kingdom has welcomed home its first four F-35B Lightning II advanced fighter aircraft, which will be flown by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Navy.

With the aid of air-to-air refueling, the aircraft flew non-stop across the Atlantic from the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort, South Carolina where UK pilots have been undergoing intensive training on the aircraft in partnership with their USMC counterparts.

With stealth technology, advanced sensors, weapons capacity and range, the F-35 Lightning II is the most lethal, survivable and connected fighter aircraft ever built. More than a fighter jet, the F-35’s ability to collect, analyze and share data is a powerful force multiplier enhancing all airborne, surface and ground-based assets in the battlespace.

«This aircraft will truly transform how the UK conducts its defence operations and it is fitting that the next generation of combat air power has arrived as the RAF celebrates its centenary», said Peter Ruddock, Chief Executive, Lockheed Martin UK. «As a key partner in the F-35 programme from its early stages, the UK has been instrumental in shaping the design and development of the aircraft, particularly in relation to the short take-off and vertical landing capabilities».

The programme has also greatly benefitted UK industry with more than 500 British companies involved in the supply chain. Around 15 percent by value of each of the more than 3,000 F-35 Lightning II aircraft projected on the programme is manufactured in the UK, and to date the programme has generated about U.S. $13 billion in contracts for British suppliers.

The aircraft have arrived two months ahead of schedule which will allow the UK’s Lightning Force to focus on achieving initial operational capability by the end of 2018. The first flight trials with the UK’s Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers are expected later this year.

Comprehensive sustainment support for the UK’s fleet of F-35 Lightning II aircraft based at RAF Marham will be provided by Lightning Team UK, which represents the blended industry team of BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, Pratt & Whitney and Rolls Royce.

The UK currently has 15 F-35B Lightning II aircraft in total, the remainder of which are stationed at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort or Edwards Air Force Base in California, where they are involved in testing and training.

Around the world, there are now nearly 300 F-35 Lightning II aircraft operating from 15 bases globally and the programme has achieved more than 140,000 flight hours.

 

Specifications

Length	51.2 feet/15.6 m
Height	14.3 feet/4.36 m
Wingspan	35 feet/10.7 m
Wing area	460 feet2/42.7 m2
Horizontal tail span	21.8 feet/6.65 m
Weight empty	32,300 lbs/14,651 kg
Internal fuel capacity	13,500 lbs/6,125 kg
Weapons payload	15,000 lbs/6,800 kg
Maximum weight	60,000 lbs class/27,215 kg
Standard internal weapons load	Two AIM-120C air-to-air missiles
	Two 2,000-pound/907 kg GBU-31 JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) guided bombs
Propulsion (uninstalled thrust ratings)	F135-PW-600
Maximum Power (with afterburner)	41,000 lbs/182,4 kN/18,597 kgf
Military Power (without afterburner)	27,000 lbs/120,1 kN/12,247 kgf
Short Take Off Thrust	40,740 lbs/181,2 kN/18,479 kgf
Hover Thrust	40,650 lbs/180,8 kN/18,438 kgf
Main Engine	18,680 lbs/83,1 kN/8,473 kgf
Lift Fan	18,680 lbs/83,1 kN/8,473 kgf
Roll Post	3,290 lbs/14,6 kN/1,492 kgf
Main Engine Length	369 inch/9.37 m
Main Engine Inlet Diameter	43 inch/1.09 m
Main Engine Maximum Diameter	46 inch/1.17 m
Lift Fan Inlet Diameter	51 inch/1,30 m
Lift Fan Maximum Diameter	53 inch/1,34 m
Conventional Bypass Ratio	0.57
Powered Lift Bypass Ratio	0.51
Conventional Overall Pressure Ratio	28
Powered Lift Overall Pressure Ratio	29
Speed (full internal weapons load)	Mach 1.6 (~1,043 knots/1,200 mph/1,931 km/h)
Combat radius (internal fuel)	>450 NM/517.6 miles/833 km
Range (internal fuel)	>900 NM/1,036 miles/1,667 km
Max g-rating	7.0
PLANNED QUANTITIES
U.S. Marine Corps	340
U.K. Royal Air Force/Royal Navy	138
Italy	30
In total	508