"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-35A is the conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) variant intended for the USAF and other air forces. It is the smallest, lightest version and capable of 9 g, the highest of all variants.

Although the F-35A currently conducts aerial refueling via boom and receptacle method, the aircraft can be modified for probe-and-drogue refueling if needed by the customer. A drag chute pod can be installed on the F-35A, with the Royal Norwegian Air Force being the first operator to adopt it.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a notional USAF Lockheed-Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter that was attached to the 65th Aggressor Squadron "Aggressors", 57th Operations Group, then deployed to Nellis AFB, Nevada, and painted in a blue splinter scheme. Pre-order! Ship Date: January 2027.

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

Release Date: ?

Historical Account: "Aggressive Tendencies" - The 65th Aggressor Squadron is a U.S. Air Force fighter squadron assigned to the 57th Wing and tasked with providing adversary training. The 65th AGRS is based at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

Originally formed in 1969, the 65th Aggressor Squadron began flying the F-5E Tiger II in 1975. They provided aggressor training to US Air Force fighter crews participating in Red Flag and other exercises at the extensive Nellis Air Force Range. The 65th AGRS flew its last aggressor mission on April 7th, 1989, before being deactivated. Re-activated on September 15th, 2005, as a component of the 57th Adversary Tactics Group, the 65th AGRS is assigned 24 F-15 aircraft, painted in camouflage schemes identical to those observed on Russian-manufactured Su-27 Flanker fighters and operates in conjunction with the 64th Aggressor Squadron, which performs a similar task using F-16s.

On July 30th, 2008, one pilot was killed and another injured when their F-15 crashed into the ground during a training mission.