British pilots train on new F-35B Fighter Jets in the USA

MOD releases unseen footage of its latest F-35B Lightning II fighter jets flown by British pilots in the US

• The RAF is due to receive 138 of the advanced fighter aircraft this summer
• RAF and Royal Navy personnel working at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina
• Jets will be based on UK’s two new Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers
• UK and US are reforming the famous 617 Dambusters squadron at the base

The MOD has released unseen footage of its latest fighters jets being flown by British RAF personnel in the US.

The F-35B Lightning II, a state-of-the-art stealth aircraft, is shown alongside its US counterparts at Marine Air Corps Station Beaufort, South Carolina.

Britain will receive 138 of the advanced aircraft this summer, but they will will first be seen by the public at the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in July and the Farnborough Air Show in Hampshire.

Squadron Leader Hugh Nichols, the UK’s senior representative at the US base, said: ‘The first thing you’ll notice about the aeroplane is the slightly different shape.

‘It’s what we call a stealthy cross section to minimise the enemy’s ability to see the aeroplane on radar.’

The plane is a short take-off and vertical landing aircraft, which means it is able to fly from ships and short runways and will be fully operational by 2018.

It is planned the aircraft will be based on the UK’s two new Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers, the first of which is due to come into service in 2017.

Currently 36 RAF and Royal Navy pilots and ground crew are working with the US Marine Corps at MCAS Beaufort, and by the end of the year that will increase to more than 100, before they return to RAF Marham in Norfolk.

By 2018 over 200 personnel will be training on the aircraft in anticipation of their deployment on HMS Queen Elizabeth.

Squadron Leader Nev Kingdon, a F-35 pilot at MCAS Beaufort, who completed his first flight in the jet on the day the video was filmed said: ‘It was fantastic to get in an aircraft, particularly this aircraft.

‘It’s just brilliant as it’s the world most advanced fighter aircraft and we’re lucky to be part of that in the UK and to be at the leading edge of that is a real privilege and a real delight.’

The UK has been a leading partner in the development of the F-35B Lightning II aircraft and has contributed $2.5 billion, about 10 per cent of the planned costs.

The British military pilots are in South Carolina to undertake intensive combat aircraft training as the two countries reform the famous 617 Dambusters squadron.

The 617 squadron was formed on March 21, 1943, with Wing Commander Guy Gibson tasked to recruit top fliers from other squadrons.