Article Posted on : - Mar 19, 2010

The F-35B fighter aircraft achieves its first vertical landing. A Lockheed Martin Photo

MARYLAND, USA (BNS): The Joint Strike Fighter programme got a shot in the arm when a supersonic F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter aircraft made its first vertical landing here, thereby proving its capability to land in confined areas, both at the sea and on shore.

The fighter aircraft, piloted by Graham Tomlinson, took off from the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland at 1.09 EDT on Thursday.

About 13 minutes after the flight, the aircraft was positioned 150 feet above the airfield, where the pilot commanded it to hover for approximately one minute, then descend to the runway.

“Today’s vertical landing of the F-35 BF-1 aircraft was a vivid demonstration of innovative technology that will serve the global security needs of the US and its allies for decades to come," Robert J. Stevens, chairman and chief executive officer of Lockheed Martin, said.

The latest test confirms the F-35B's short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) characteristics. More such tests would be conducted to further expand the operational flight envelope for the F-35B, Lockheed Martin vice president Doug Pearson said.

The F-35 is a fifth-generation multi-role stealth combat aircraft capable of performing close air support, tactical bombing and air defence missions. It is being designed to replace the existing fleet of fighter aircraft of nine partnering countries.

US defence major Lockheed Martin is building the fighter with its main industrial partners Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems.