"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.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a USN Lockheed-Martin F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter that was assigned to VX-23 "The Salty Dogs", and tested at the Naval Air Systems Command, located at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, during 2012. Sold Out!

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

Release Date: July 2019

Historical Account: "You Missed a Spot" - The F-35 Lightning II Pax River Integrated Test Force (ITF) Naval Variants test program based at Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 aboard NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, continues to grow and accelerate since beginning operations in 2010.

The Pax River ITF's diverse cadre of technicians, maintainers, engineers, support staff and test pilots from the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, U.K. Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, and industry partners, have tested the F-35B STOVL variant and the F-35C carrier variant aboard NAS Patuxent River; along the Atlantic Test Ranges; and at the McKinley Climatic Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida for climatic chamber testing.

In addition, the team has performed a variety of tests aboard a broad array of amphibious assault ships and aircraft carriers, including USS Wasp (LHD 1) and USS America (LHA 6) for F-35B ship trials; Marine Corps operational testing, and Proof of Concept demonstrations; and USS Nimitz (CVN 68), USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), and USS George Washington (CVN 73) for F-35C sea trials.

NAS Patuxent River is home to Naval Air Systems Command.