Lockheed Martin F-35B Accomplishes First Night Vertical Landing (Video)

Lockheed Martin F-35B, the short takeoff and vertical landing variant of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft, successfully completed its first nocturnal vertical landing.

Lockheed Martin F-35B (Youtube Screengrab)

According to Lockheed Martin officials, the operation was conducted by a US Marine Corps test pilot Lt. Col. Russell Clift on August 14, 2013 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. The maneuver was done during the second phase of the three developmental tests known as Ship Suitability Sea Trials, which initial sea-trials started last October 2011 using the deck of an amphibious assault ship, the USS WASP, as a vertical landing zone.

Lockheed Martin's F-35B reportedly accomplished its 500th vertical landing a week prior to this 2nd phase of developmental test.  The first successful vertical landing was done last March 2009.

Lockheed Martin said that the success of  F-35B in these sea-trials served as the key for its Initial Operating Capability (IOC) for the US Marine Corps in 2015.

Lockheed Martin F-35B is said to possess the most lethal fighter characteristics - supersonic speed, radar-evading stealth, extreme agility and short takeoff/vertical landing capability.

"With the F-35B in their fleet, expeditionary forces, like the U.S. Marine Corps, have a decisive advantage over their adversaries," the Bethesda, MD-based Lockheed Martin said. "The F-35B’s versatility will revolutionize expeditionary combat power in all threat environments by allowing operations from major bases, damaged airstrips, remote locations and a wide range of air-capable ships."

Check out a video of Lockheed Martin F-35B's first vertical night landing below: