Lockheed F-35A Lightning II

F-001 Royal Netherlands Air Force "Klu"

General Background

The Lockheed F-35 is an advanced stealth fifth generation fighter combining speed and superb agility. There are three variants; F-35A, B and C. The F-35A CTOL (Conventional Take Off and Landing) and has four internal weapons stations in two weapons bays plus three optional external weapons stations. The F-35B STOVL (Short Take Off Vertical Landing) variant while the F-35C is a CV (Carrier Variant). The F-35 will replace the USAF A-10 and F-16, the F/A-18 for the USN and the F/A-18 and AV-8B Harrier for the USMC.

The Aircraft

The first international partner involved in the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II project to receive the new aircraft was the Royal Netherlands Air Force. Their first F-35A was c/n AN-1, tail code F-001 and assigned a USAF serial number 09-5008. It made its inaugural flight on August 6, 2012 and on July 25, 2013 the aircraft was officially handed over to the Dutch with the first flight by an RNLAF pilot taking place on December 18, 2013. The RNLAF are expected to obtain 85 F-35As in total.