Soaring above the clouds An F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom, flies alongside a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 100th Air Refueling Wing at RAF Mildenhall, U.K., during a refueling mission over the North Sea, May 24, 2022. The F-35A is a fifth-generation fighter that provides the joint warfighter unprecedented global precision attack capability against current and emerging threats, while complementing the Air Force’s air superiority fleet. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kevin Long)
220526-N-XN177-1148 PACIFIC OCEAN (May 26, 2022) An F-35B Lightning II aircraft assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 lands aboard amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7), May 26, 2022. Tripoli is conducting routine operations in U.S. 7th Fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Peter Burghart)
211017-N-HS181-1473 BAY OF BENGAL (Oct. 17, 2021) An F-35C Lightning II assigned to the “Argonauts” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 flies over the Bay of Bengal as part of Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) 2021, Oct. 17, 2021. MPX 2021 is a multilateral maritime exercise between the Royal Australian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, U.K. Royal Navy, and U.S. maritime forces, focused on naval cooperation, interoperability and regional security and stability in the Indo-Pacific and is an example of the enduring partnership between Australian, Japanese, U.K. and U.S. maritime forces, who routinely operate together in the Indo-Pacific, fostering a cooperative approach toward regional security and stability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Haydn N. Smith)
211006-M-MS099-603 SOUTH CHINA SEA ((Oct. 6, 2021) U.S. Marine Capt Craig Turner with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211, accelerates an F-35B Lightning II on the flight deck of the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) in the South China Sea, Oct. 6, 2021. VMFA-211 is currently deployed with the United Kingdom?s Carrier Strike Group 21. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Zachary Bodner)
Test flight completed after F-35B modifications A Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II completes its first short takeoff and vertical landing check flight at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, June 18, 2015. The aircraft was undergoing a functional check flight following modifications at the Ogden Air Logistics Complex. (U.S. Air Force photo/Alex R. Lloyd)
210618-M-MS099-978 U.S. 6TH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS (June 18, 2021) A U.S. Marine assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 21, launches an F-35B Lightning II from the flight deck of the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (R 08) in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations on June 18, 2021. Alongside the United Kingdom?s 617 Squadron, VMFA-211 is conducting combat sorties in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), the first combat operations launched from Queen Elizabeth. OIR is the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria and the wider international community. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Zachary Bodner)
210905-N-IW069-1297 PACIFIC OCEAN (Sept. 5, 2021) An F-35C Lightning II, assigned to the “Argonauts” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147, launches from the flight deck aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Sept. 5, 2021. Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners while serving as a ready-response force in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Isaiah Williams)
220730-N-MM912-2171 PACIFIC OCEAN (July 30, 2022) An F-35C Lightning II, assigned to the “Black Knights” of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, prepares to make an arrested landing on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 3rd Fleet. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Michael Singley)
220122-N-EE352-1750 PHILIPPINE SEA (Jan. 22, 2022) ) Sailors taxi an F-35C Lightning II, assigned to the “Argonauts” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147, on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Jan. 22, 2022. Operating as part of U.S. Pacific Fleet, Vinson is conducting training to preserve and protect a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Leon Vonguyen)
220405-N-XB641-1189 PHILIPPINE SEA (April 5, 2022) Sailors transport an F-35C Lightning II, assigned to the “Black Knights” of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, in the hangar bay of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), April 5, 2022. Abraham Lincoln Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability through alliances and partnerships while serving as a ready-response force in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Thaddeus Berry)
F-35 surpasses 5K sorties A Navy F-35C, a Marine Corps F-35B, and an Air Force F-35A Lightning II participate in a training sortie together May 21, near Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. All three variants of the fifth generation multirole stealth fighter are hosted at Eglin by the 33rd Fighter Wing. The wing’s F-35 Integrated Training Center at Eglin surpassed 5,000 combined training sorties May 28, contributing more than a third of all sorties in the Department of Defense’s F-35 program. The F-35 is designed with the stealth, electronic warfare, and multi-spectral fused sensor capabilities, which will increase lethality and survivability in a contested environment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Katerina Slivinske)
140521-F-SG137-060 A Navy F-35C, a Marine Corps F-35B, and an Air Force F-35A Lightning II participate in a training sortie together May 21, 2014, near Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The F-35 Integrated Training Center at Eglin AFB surpassed 5,000 combined training sorties May 28, 2014, contributing more than a third of all sorties in the Department of Defense’s F-35 program. All three variants of the fifth generation multirole stealth fighter are hosted by the 33rd Fighter Wing here. The F-35 is designed with the stealth, electronic warfare, and multi-spectral fused sensor capabilities, which will increase lethality and survivability in a contested environment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Joely M. Santiago)
F-35 surpasses 5K sorties A United Kingdom F-35B Lightning II flies alongside a Navy F-35C, a Marine Corps F-35B, and an Air Force F-35A from the 33rd Fighter Wing in the skies above Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. May 21. The F-35s at Eglin AFB surpassed 5,000 combined training sorties May 28, contributing more than a third of all sorties in the Department of Defense program. The 33rd FW F-35 Integrated Training Center trains F-35 A/B/C Lightning II pilots, maintainers, air battle managers and intelligence personnel for the Marine Corps, the Navy, the Air Force and, in the future, at least eight international partners. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Katerina Slivinske)