The F-35C Lightning II (F-35 Lightning II in handheld titles) is a stealth multirole aircraft. It made its debut in Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War and has made subsequent appearances since.
The F-35C is the carrier-capable version of the F-35. It features larger, folding wings; reinforced landing gear; an arresting hook; and the standard machine gun mounted externally in a stealth pod (same approach used with the F-35B) rather than internally like the F-35A.
Compared to its carrier stablemates like the F-14 and F/A-18, the F-35C has seen limited operations throughout the various conflicts of Strangereal. However, the aircraft possesses stealth technology like the F-22A Raptor and also offers high agility which favorably compares to newer fighters. It is unknown when the F-35C was introduced or if it predates the F-22, but the earliest examples were sighted during the 1995 Belkan War.
"A multirole aircraft with stealth capabilities, the C-model is a carrier-based aircraft used by the navy. Developed in the JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) program, it can take on the role of various craft and is capable of more than just aerial combat. Its nickname is "Lightning II"."
Complete mission 5A: Capital Defense on Ace difficulty twice or complete multiplayer Joint Assault mission 19&20: Wrecking Ball on the second playthrough.
The aircraft is referred to in this game as F-35C.
"This versatile and lightweight carrier-based stealth fighter features both air-to-air and air-to-ground attack capabilities while maintaining a low production cost."
The aircraft is referred to in this game as F-35C.
"This versatile and lightweight carrier-based stealth fighter features both air-to-air and air-to-ground attack capabilities while maintaining a low production cost."
In games prior to Ace Combat 7, the F-35C lacks its Electro-optical target system (EOTS), has a different landing gear door, and its main gun is mounted internally despite the real gun being carried in a pod. The current model which has those features above, however, debuts in Ace Combat 7.
In Ace Combat 7, the F-35C is shown to carry 2 additional AMRAAMs in its internal weapons bays than it is actually designed for in real life (the extra missiles are seen in the center of the weapons bays). Coincidentally, Lockheed Martin's "Sidekick" weapons bay adapter for the A and C variants of the Lightning II also features this addition.[6]
In Ace Combat 7, for unknown reasons the F-35C has radar reflectors outfitted, which are usually used during training exercises or in civilian airspace to detect the stealth aircraft easier, or to mask a stealth aircraft's true potential.