After many troubles, Lockheed Martin’s $1-trillion aircraft is beginning to show small signs of success. On Friday, an F-35B of the British Royal Navy conducted its first vertical landing.
The F-35B is the only variant capable of hovering. The F-35A relies on conventional runways, while the F-35C is designed for aircraft carrier slingshots.
The UK plans to buy 140 F-35s at a cost of roughly $100 million each.
The fighter has seen significant problems and delays throughout its development, including software glitches, faulty engines, and inferior flight performance. Most recently, US officials have expressed safety concerns over the plane’s ejector seats.
