F-35 targets RIAT and Farnborough for international debut

A UK RAF F-35B at Edwards Air Force Base. (US State Department)

The F-35 Lightning II is set to make its much-anticipated international display debut in the UK at the Royal International Air Tattoo in July, with organisers expecting more than one F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) variant to appear.

Meanwhile, up to five F-35s are scheduled to participate in the flying display at the Farnborough International Airshow later that month, including at least one UK aircraft.

The US Air Force stated that the 56th Fighter Wing will send conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) F-35A aircraft for public display at the Air Tattoo and at Farnborough, marking the first time the USAF will have sent the F-35 to an overseas airshow.