New Lightning F-35B stealth fighters arrive at RAF Marham
RAF Marham has taken delivery of two new Lightning F-35B stealth fighter jets.
The new multi-role machines were flown from Fort Worth in Texas – where all F-35s are built – to their new home with the support of a Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker from RAF Brize Norton.
Flown by both the RAF and Navy, F-35s also operate from both Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.
In April, it was announced that the UK's fleet of F-35 Lightning fighter jets was set to be maintained and supported by Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems thanks to a new £161m contract.
A contract was signed by the US Joint Program Office, with Lockheed Martin as the prime contractor and BAE Systems carrying out the work as a sub-contractor.
The new deal would look to support the F-35 fleet until 2027, allowing the UK more freedom to operate the aircraft, increase the number of flying hours and deliver mission planning, training and maintenance.
F-35B Specifications
The F-35B Lighting is a multi-role machine, capable of conducting air-to-surface, electronic warfare, intelligence gathering and air-to-air missions simultaneously.
Here are some of the specifications of the fifth-generation fighter aircraft:
- Powerplant: one Pratt & Whitney F135 turbofan rated at 40,000lb st (177.88kN) with afterburning and 40,500lb st (180.10kN) for vertical take-off
- Length: 51ft 2¼in (15.60m)
- Height: 14ft 3½in (4.36m)
- Wingspan: 35ft (10.70m)
- Wing area: 460sqft (42.70m2)
- Maximum take-off weight: around 60,000lb (27,216kg)
- Maximum speed: Mach 1.6
- Combat radius: on internal fuel more than 450nm (833km)
- Maximum altitude: 50,000ft
- Armament: typically two AAMs and two bombs carried internally, with optional 25mm gun pod and underwing pylons enabling stores carriage up to 15,000lb (6,800kg)
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