Royal Navy Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II

ORIGINAL: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3681917705 I claim no credit for the build this is just a Livery/function edit for use for my server and to allow anyone from said server to access and use this aircraft

Royal Navy Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II

1:1 model of RN F-35B 1341 bricks

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Controls

Button	Description
Invert Steering	VTOL mode
Hazard Lights	STOL mode
Beacon	Open weapons bay
Disable steering (X)	Landing gears
PgUp/PgDown	Move Forward/Back
Horn (H)	Aerial Refueling Probe
Headlights (L)	Formation, Nav and Strobe lights

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Origins of the F-35 Program

The F-35 was developed by Lockheed Martin as part of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program, which began in the 1990s to replace aging fighter jets like the F-16, A-10, F/A-18, and AV-8B Harrier. The goal was to create a stealthy, multirole fighter with three variants sharing common components:

F-35A (conventional takeoff and landing)

F-35B (vertical takeoff and landing for Marines)

F-35C (carrier-based version for the U.S. Navy)

Development of the F-35B

The F-35B was specifically engineered for the U.S. Marine Corps and allied forces requiring expeditionary operations. Its defining feature is the ability to perform short takeoffs and vertical landings (STOVL), eliminating the need for long runways or catapults. Key features include:

-Lift Fan System: A unique, shaft-driven lift fan located just behind the cockpit that generates cool, downward thrust.

-Roll Posts: Bleed air ducts in the wings that provide stability and roll control during hover.

-Swivel Nozzle: The engine's exhaust nozzle rotates 90 degrees downward to direct hot gas for vertical lift.

-Reinforced Structure: Designed to handle the intense heat and stress of vertical landings on amphibious ships or austere bases.

It first flew in 2008 and underwent rigorous testing, including the first vertical landing later that year and extensive shipboard trials to validate its STOVL capabilities.

Operational Service

This specific upload is designed to be used with my HMS Queen Elizabeth, an Aircraft Carrier of the Royal Navy and one of the largest Aircraft Carriers in the world HMS Queen Elizabeth: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3685363654 It is also compatable with my aircraft tug Schopf F59N: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3706867990

The F-35B Lightning II, the world's first supersonic stealth fighter with short takeoff/vertical landing capability, achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC) with the U.S. Marine Corps in 2015. Designed for distributed and expeditionary warfare, it features a shaft-driven lift fan, a rotating engine nozzle, and roll control ducts to excel in operations from amphibious assault ships, damaged runways, and small forward bases. As the most advanced STOVL fighter in existence, the F-35B combines stealth, advanced sensors, and data-sharing capabilities to dominate contested airspace and provide close air support to forces on the ground.

Despite its complex engineering and high sustainment costs, the F-35B has become a game-changing asset in global power projection. It has been deployed aboard ships like the USS Wasp and HMS Queen Elizabeth in the Indo-Pacific and Europe, countering near-peer threats and enabling operations from locations where conventional fighters cannot operate. Future upgrades under the Block 4 modernization program will enhance its weapons payload, electronic warfare suite, and computing power, ensuring it remains the premier STOVL fighter for the Marines and allies like the UK and Italy until the 2040s. Operating in conjunction with F/A-18s and future platforms like the MQ-25, the F-35B is fundamentally reshaping expeditionary naval aviation for modern warfare.

Thanks to

Humanoid_TM - for awesome FCS