The “F-35B Lightning II,” manufactured by Lockheed Martin, is one of the most advanced fifth-generation so-called “stealth” (hard to detect by radar) technology fighters in the world, reports The Guardian.
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What makes it special
Presented by the manufacturer as “the most advanced fighter jet in the world,” the F-35B is a stealth technology aircraft capable of landing like a conventional plane or vertically – similar to a helicopter, notes CNN.
Unlike conventional fighters, the F-35B can take off from a short runway and land vertically (STOVL), allowing it to be used at smaller military bases, amphibious assault ships, and temporary airfields.
The aircraft can fly at about 1,930 km/h and integrates air, land, sea, space, and cyber operations into a single combat platform, experts note.
The fighter jet, more than 15 meters long, is used by the US Marine Corps, the United Kingdom, and the Italian Air Force.
How much does the F-35B fighter jet cost
According to the manufacturer, one such fighter jet costs more than 100 million US dollars.
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The F-35 program is one of the most expensive defense projects ever undertaken.
Defense experts estimate that although one F-35B costs well over 100 million US dollars, the total expenses over its entire service life increase significantly when including maintenance, spare parts, and long-term operational support.
Crash in California
15min reminds that on Friday near the military base in San Diego, a US F-35 fighter jet crashed, but the pilot managed to eject before the impact, officials reported.
“At about 10 a.m. (local time, 5 p.m. Lithuanian time) an aviation incident involving a US Marine Corps F-35B fighter jet occurred near the Marine Corps Miramar Air Base,” a base press representative told AFP news agency.
“The pilot ejected and was found,” he said.
A later military base statement said the pilot was taken to a medical facility, his “condition is stable, he is being evaluated and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.”
Videos circulated on social media show a plume of smoke rising from the aircraft, and firefighters were dispatched to extinguish the flames.
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