From Lightning To Super Lightning

Boeing’s evolution of the F/A-18 Hornet into the Super Hornet breathed new life into the aircraft. Now, the F-35 looks set for its own reimagining.

Beginning life in the mid-1990s’ Joint Strike Fighter competition, which sought a single, affordable platform to replace a host of legacy fighters, Lockheed Martin’s X 35 prototype first took to the skies on 24 October 2000, with the conventional take-off of F-35A following on 15 December 2006.

Three variants emerged, the F-35A for land based operations, the short take off and vertical landing F-35B and the carrier-capable F-35C, each sharing a common stealthy airframe, advanced sensors and network centric systems. Full-rate production began in 2021, cementing the F-35 as the backbone of multiple allied air forces.

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