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The first Lockheed Martin F-35B short-take-off/vertical landing (STOVL) Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) rolled off the production line at the company's assembly plant in Fort Worth, Texas, on 18 December.
The F-35B test aircraft, known as the BF-1, is the first of seven STOVL F-35 variants currently being produced for use in the system development and demonstration phase of the United States-led JSF programme.
Production models of the F-35B are also in the pipeline as long-lead procurement funds for the first six production STOVL aircraft have already been authorised by the US government.
The F-35B is expected to make its first flight in the second quarter of 2008 after undergoing extensive ground tests.
Customers include the US Marine Corps (USMC), which will replace the AV-8B Harriers with the F-35B; the UK Royal Navy/Royal Air Force, which will replace their Harrier GR.7/GR.9s with the F-35B; and the Italian Air Force/Navy, which intend to procure a mix of F-35B and conventional take-off and landing F-35A aircraft. The first USMC training aircraft are planned for a 2011 delivery.
The concept behind the F-35B is to maximise range and build upon the more limited capabilities of the Harrier: the world's first operational STOVL aircraft.
Image: The F-35B JSF is expected to fly in the second quarter of 2008 (Lockheed Martin) 206 of 563 words
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