All three of the F-35 Lightning variants are particularly formidable.
The Royal Air Force’s F-35B contingent has taken center stage at the ongoing multinational Exercise Falcon Strike 25. F-35s are flying alongside their fourth-generation counterparts as part of the live-fly military drills intended to test and improve the fifth-generation fighter capabilities of the UK, United States, Italy, France, and Greece. More than 1,000 personnel and over 50 aircraft are participating in the ongoing drills, contributing directly to NATO Allied Air Command’s objectives of Deterrence and Defense.
As spelled out by NATO, “The training focuses on integrating fourth and fifth-generation aircraft into cohesive formations, which is an essential step in refining tactics for modern air warfare. Participating forces will also train in Agile Combat Employment (ACE), testing NATO’s ability to deploy rapidly and operate from dispersed locations while maintaining combat effectiveness.”
The United Kingdom Loves the F-35
Falcon Strike 25 is the latest stop of the UK’s eight-month-long deployment across the globe, from the North Atlantic to the Indo-Pacific. Operation Highmast, led by the UK’s HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier, aims to project power and boost key international partnerships the nation has with its NATO allies.
The UK most recently received its latest delivery of F-35B fighters this summer, which is expected to be supplemented with seven more jets by the end of the year. The Lockheed Martin-designed F-35B “Bravo” Lightning II is the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the platform. Currently, the HMS Prince of Wales carries the largest number of F-35Bs of any warship. Two dozen F-35Bs are partaking in the ongoing Falcon Strike 25, a staggering number that showcases the Royal Navy’s prioritization of the platform.
Details on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
Three distinct variants of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) were initially designed to fulfill the needs of the US Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy: the F-35A, F-35B, and F-35C, respectively. The “Bravo” iteration of this platform became the first supersonic, radar-evading stealth jet ever fielded to feature short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capabilities when it reached operational capacity. As surmised by Sandboxx News, the F-35B represents the most mechanically complex of the three Lightning II variants. The platform’s STOVL capability enables the aircraft to be operated from runways even smaller than the flight decks on aircraft carriers. The F-35B jets are able to take off with just 600 feet of runway while carrying a full payload of weaponry as well.
As detailed by the platform’s manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, “STOVL operation is made possible through the patented shaft-driven LiftFan propulsion system. This propulsion approach overcomes many of the temperature, velocity and power challenges of direct-lift systems.” While the F-35B iteration of the JSF is especially unique, all three Lightning variants are equally formidable. From stealth and avionics to electronic warfare and versatility, the platform is arguably the most advanced fifth-gen concept in service across the globe today.
For these reasons, the Royal Navy is banking on its growing F-35B contingent to lead its aerial strategy if the UK finds itself in a kinetic conflict down the line. As tensions between Beijing and NATO members continue to ramp up, the potential combat use of the UK’s F-35 fleet becomes more likely.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
Image: Shutterstock.
