F-35 B Lightning II : In Box Review : Italeri : 1/48 Scale

Aircraft Description

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is an American family of single-seat, single-engine, all-weather stealth multirole combat aircraft that is intended to perform both air superiority and strike missions. It is also able to provide electronic warfare and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. Lockheed Martin is the prime F-35 contractor, with principal partners Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. The aircraft has three main variants: the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) F-35A, the short take-off and vertical-landing (STOVL) F-35B, and the carrier-based (CV/CATOBAR) F-35C.

The aircraft descends from the Lockheed Martin X-35, which in 2001 beat the Boeing X-32 to win the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. Its development is principally funded by the United States, with additional funding from program partner countries from NATO and close U.S. allies, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Italy, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and formerly Turkey. Several other countries have also ordered, or are considering ordering, the aircraft. The program has drawn much scrutiny and criticism for its unprecedented size, complexity, ballooning costs, and much-delayed deliveries. The acquisition strategy of concurrent production of the aircraft while it was still in development and testing led to expensive design changes and retrofits.

The F-35 first flew in 2006 and entered service with the U.S. Marine Corps F-35B in July 2015, followed by the U.S. Air Force F-35A in August 2016 and the U.S. Navy F-35C in February 2019. The aircraft was first used in combat in 2018 by the Israeli Air Force. The U.S. plans to buy 2,456 F-35s through 2044, which will represent the bulk of the crewed tactical aviation of the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps for several decades; the aircraft is planned to be a cornerstone of NATO and U.S.-allied air power and to operate until 2070.

Kit Description

100% NEW MOULDS – SUPER DECALS SHEET FOR 5 VERSIONS – PHOTO-ETCHED FRET – CONTAINS U.S. VERSION ”BEAST MODE” LOADOUT AND 2 WEAPONS TROLLEYS – COLOR INSTRUCTION SHEET

FIGURES NOT INCLUDED

The JSF Joint Strike Fighter program was a developmental project to create a new 5th generation all-weather multirole combat aircraft to replace the existing American and NATO strike-fighter force. The aerospace industry team led by aircraft manufacturer Lockheed Martin, created the single-seat, single-engine F-35 Lightning II. This fighter employs stealth technology and is characterized by its trapezoidal wings and application of the most advanced hi-tech systems, materials and avionics. Designed to attain air superiority, provide close air support and undertake ground attack missions, it has been developed in differing configurations for its varying roles. The F-35B with its STOVL (Short Take Off and Vertical Landing) capability has been specifically designed to operate from modern aircraft carriers such as the British H.M.S. Queen Elizabeth or the Cavour, the flagship of the Italian Navy. The U.S Marines Corps plan to deploy the F-35B in both attack and ground support roles. The STOVL version is powered by the Pratt & Whitney afterburning turbofan and its swivel nozzle, which directs the thrust of the engine. Due in part to its operational flexibility, its advanced on-board technology, innovative design and performance features, the F-35 Lightning II is already a landmark aircraft in the world of 21st century military aviation.