With the support of an in-flight refueling vehicle, fighters flew over the Atlantic Ocean uninterrupted from the Beaufort Marine Air Base in South Carolina, where British pilots received intensive training on the aircraft, in partnership with United States Marine Corps.
Equipped with technology stealth, advanced sensors, weapon capabilities and range of action, the F-35 is the most effective, safe and connected fighter ever built. More than an airplane, the F-35 has the ability to collect, analyze and share data, thus becoming a powerful force multiplier and enhancing all asset of air, surface and the support bases that participate in the mission.
"This aircraft will really transform the way the United Kingdom manages its air defense operations and it is no coincidence that this new generation of combat forces becomes part of the RAF in the year of the centenary"Said Peter Ruddock, Chief Executive, Lockheed Martin UK. "As a key partner of the F-35 program since its early stages, the United Kingdom has been instrumental in the design and development of the aircraft, in particular in relation to short take-off and vertical landing capabilities.".
The program has had an extremely positive impact on the UK industry, with over 500 UK companies involved in the supply chain. About 15% of the value of each of the more than 3.000 F-35s developed over the course of the program is manufactured in the UK, and to date the program has generated approximately $ 13 billion in contracts for UK suppliers.
The aircraft arrived at the base two months in advance of the program, which will allow the Lightning Force UK to focus on achieving the IOC (Initial Operational Capability) by the end of the 2018. The first tests on board the British aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth Class are expected by the end of this year.
Support activities for the British F-35 fleet stationed at the RAF Marham base will be provided by the British Lightning Team, formed by a joint team from BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, Pratt & Whitney and Rolls Royce.
The United Kingdom currently has 15 F-35B aircraft in total: the others are currently located at the Beaufort or Edwards bases in California, where they are involved in test and training missions.
Worldwide, there are currently around 300 F-35s operating in 15 bases and the program has reached and exceeded 140.000 total flight hours.
