The first international Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II rolled out of the factory recently. The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence will use the short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) jet, known as BK-1, for training and operational tests. The jet is scheduled to be delivered in 2012.

“This first F-35 for the first international programme partner is symbolic of the proud partnership we share with the United Kingdom,” said F-35 Executive Vice President and General Manager of Programme Integration Tom Burbage. “Working together in a spirit of collaboration, we are providing the men and women of the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy with unmatched fifth generation capabilities, while delivering advanced technology sector jobs to the UK.”

Group Captain Harv Smyth, the UK’s Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) National Deputy, stated, “This is a major milestone in the JSF Programme for UK, and we look forward to starting to operate the first British F-35s next year. JSF is ideally suited for UK’s future combat air capability needs, since it provides a world-class fifth generation air system, which is capable of operating from both the land and our new Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier.”

The UK will play a vital role in the F-35’s global production, follow-on development and sustainment over the next 40 years, bringing strong economic benefits to the country.

The F-35 Lightning II is a fifth generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and advanced sustainment. Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 with its principal industrial partners, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems.