The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II continues to face scrutiny over its high costs and operational challenges, as highlighted in a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report which pointed to increasing sustainability costs and decreased operational plans due to reliability issues.
The F-35 Lightning II, a fifth-generation multirole fighter, has three versions: the conventional F-35A, the short take-off and vertical landing F-35B, and the carrier-capable F-35C.
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The upgraded Kaga, now capable of deploying the vertical take-off variant of the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter, will be a welcome addition to Japan’s arsenal, analysts say.
The Royal Netherlands Air Force has removed its fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcons from the BENELUX Air Policing duties and instead, the role will now be filled by the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II to protect the airspace over Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.