F-35B C

The F-35B Lightning II is the Aquatic Corps variation of the Joint Strike Competitor and features an upright raise follower and pivoting engine nozzle to deliver upright touchdown and brief takeoff capability to expeditionary airfields. The F-35 will change AV-8B Harrier IIs in the Aquatic Corps stock.

Designed to run from austere bases and a variety of air-capable ships with its brief takeoff/upright touchdown capability, the F-35B can also takeoff and land conventionally from much longer runways on significant bases. F-35B airplane have been delivered to the U.S. Marines and the U.K., whose forces are educating with each other at the Incorporated Educating Facility at Eglin Air Force Base. STOVL airplane are also stationed at the first functional F-35 base, Aquatic Corps Air Terminal Yuma, Ariz., and are finishing trip test at Marine Air Terminal Patuxent River, Md. The Italian Air Force will also run the B-variant. The F-35B has a Raise Follower simply behind the cabin and an engine that can swivel 90 levels when in brief takeoff/upright touchdown setting. Because of the Raise Follower, the STOVL variation has smaller sized interior tool bay and much less interior fuel capacity compared to the F-35A. It uses the probe and drogue technique of airborne refueling.