History
The Lockheed Martin X-35 was an experimental attack fighter developed to take part in the Joint Strike Fighter competition for the replacement aircraft for a number of current attack aircraft. It was selected for development in 2001.
Studies for a new attack fighter dating back to the 1980s became the Joint Strike Fighter Competition in November 1996 with Boeing and Lockheed Martin being contracted to produce two prototypes each.
One would be conventional and the other capable of short and vertical take off and landing.
The Lockheed Martin entry was based upon the F-22 design refined for one engine with the capability for vertical and short take off and landing.
It was announced as the competition winner in October 2001 and is being developed as the F-35.
This model represents the X-35A prototype.
Italeri 1/72 kit completed by Leigh Edmonds in October 2007.