A stealth fighter successfully executed a landing maneuver that confirms it can land in confined areas ashore and afloat alike, as necessary, Lockheed-Martin announced Thursday.
A supersonic F-35B Lightning II rode 41,000 pounds of thrust to complete a vertical landing for the first time at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., Thursday.
"Today’s vertical landing onto a 95-foot square pad showed that we have the thrust and the control to maneuver accurately both in free air and in the descent through ground effect," said pilot Graham Tomlinson.
Thirteen minutes after a 93 mph short takeoff from the air station Thursday afternoon, Tomlinson positioned the fighter 150 feet above the airfield, hover for a minute and then descended.
"Today's vertical landing of the F-35 BF-1 aircraft was a vivid demonstration of innovative technology that will serve the global security needs of the U.S. and its allies for decades to come," said Robert J. Stevens, Lockheed Martin chairman and chief executive officer.
The BF-1 is one of three F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing jets undergoing trials at Patuxent River. F-35Bs will replace U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B short takeoff/vertical landing fighters and F/A-18 strike fighters.
The BF-1 is powered by Pratt & Whitney F135 turbofan engine driving a counter-rotating Rolls-Royce LiftFan, which produces more than 41,000 pounds of vertical lift.
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