British English: Pictured is the first of the UK’s F-35B Lightning II jets to be flown to the UK.

Pictured is the first of the UK’s F-35B Lightning II jets to be flown to the UK. Accompanied by two United States Marine Corps (USMC) F-35B aircraft from their training base at Beaufort, South Carolina.

The F-35B Lightning II will place the United Kingdom (UK) at the forefront of fighter technology, giving the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Navy (RN) a true multi-role all weather, day and night capability, able to operate from well-established land bases, deployed locations, or the Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers. The Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) will be known in UK service as the Lightning II. Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor, but the UK is the only Level 1 partner with the United States. A number of British companies, including BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce will have significant industrial work-share in construction and development of the aircraft. The Lightning II will provide UK Defence with a 5th Generation (low observable, supersonic, enhanced data fusion), multi-role, all weather, day and night aircraft, that will have the ability to operate from land bases as well as the Queen Elizabeth Class carriers, the first of which is due to accept Lightning II onto her deck in 2018. This basing flexibility will give UK Defence a truly joint expeditionary Combat Air capability well into the 2030’s. The RAF is the lead service for the operation of Lightning II and, like the Harrier before, the Joint Lightning II Force will be manned by both RAF and RN personnel.