The Royal Netherlands Air Force's Lockheed F-35A is ready at Leeuwarden airbase for a night mission. The F-35A is the regular version built for the USAF and was seen by the Dutch armed forces as the best candidate to replace the Royal Netherlands Air Force's F-16s. It is the only version with a built-in 25 mm gun as it is also to replace the A-10 Thunderbolt II. The first aircraft of the A variant made its maiden flight on 15 December 2006 after successful ground tests from 7 to 12 December 2006. The F-35 can be equipped with a diverse weapons package both internally and externally. Characteristically, the weapons are inside a bomb bay instead of hanging under the wings. This limits visibility on radar.
Kris Christiaens is a professional aviation photographer who always tries to portray the power, manoeuvrability and history of aircraft and helicopters in the most original and impressive way possible... Read more…