F-35 Lightning II - the digital backbone of modern airpower

A 5th-generation multirole combat aircraft (Multirole Combat Aircraft). Designed to replace a wide range of older aircraft such as the F-16, F/A-18, AV-8B Harrier II, or A-10 Thunderbolt II. Thanks to stealth technology and advanced avionics, the F-35 is used not only for air-to-air combat and striking ground targets, but also serves as a key information-exchange node (connected fighter aircraft), collecting and distributing intelligence data for the entire allied fleet.

• It comes in three main variants:

  • F-35A: Conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) the baseline version for air forces.

  • F-35B: Short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) used, among others, by the Marine Corps.

  • F-35C: Carrier variant (CV) with enlarged wings and strengthened landing gear, dedicated to US Navy aircraft carriers.

The aircraft is the cornerstone of NATO and US-allied air forces. Major users include the United States (US Air Force, US Navy, US Marine Corps), the United Kingdom, Italy, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, and Australia. F-35 for Poland: Poland ordered 32 F-35A aircraft (named "Husarz"), which will ultimately go, among others, to the 32nd Tactical Air Base in ask, ushering our air force into a new technological era. Despite its relatively short service life, the F-35 fleet has already seen combat. The first combat use took place in 2018 by Israel, which uses a modified version, the F-35I Adir, for operations in the Middle East. American aircraft (US Marine Corps and Air Force) have been used in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq for precision strikes against ground targets, confirming their effectiveness in real-world conditions.

• Key specifications

  • Sensor Fusion: A revolutionary integration of data. The pilot does not have to interpret individual radars the computer merges sensor images into a single coherent tactical picture. The Helmet Mounted Display System (HMDS) allows the pilot to "see through the fuselage" (e.g., looking down, they see the ground rather than the cockpit floor).

  • Stealth technology: Advanced materials and the airframes shape make the aircraft extremely difficult to detect and track by enemy air-defense systems.

  • Propulsion: The Pratt & Whitney F135 engine is the most powerful fighter engine in the world, providing tremendous thrust (with a vectoring option in the B variant). Work is ongoing on an upgrade (Engine Core Upgrade) to meet the requirements of newer software versions (Block 4).

The F-35 is an icon of modern aviation that sparks huge emotions. You can build your own version of this incredible machine with the F-35 Lightning II (Reobrix 33021) set. The model consists of 1600 pieces and impresses with attention to detail it depicts the F-35B variant with its characteristic lift fan behind the cockpit (key to vertical landing). Its an excellent choice for any military technology fan who wants to have the worlds most advanced fighter on their shelf.