- "Three planes, a small transport to dock and a pair of F-35s to make sure we hand over Quinn."
- ―Grant Ward to Phil Coulson[src]
The F-35 Lightning II is a single-seat, single-engine fifth-generation multirole fighter aircraft under development to perform ground attack, reconnaissance, and air defense missions with stealth capability.
Although it was still in development, S.H.I.E.L.D. acquired many of these vehicles, in the B variant (which has STOL capabilities), and used them as one of its primary combat aircraft, prior to the HYDRA Uprising.
History[]
During the Attack on the Helicarrier, Maria Hill ordered Escort 6-0 to board the F-35 and open fire on Hulk. Hulk responded by leaping on the F-35 and causing it to crash.[1]
The World Security Council sent two F-35s with a nuclear payload to destroy New York City to prevent the Chitauri invasion from spreading during the Battle of New York. Nick Fury, disagreeing with this order, was able to disable one while the other escaped him. Iron Man redirected the bomb of the second into the Sanctuary through a Wormhole to destroy the Chitauri Command Center, ending the Chitauri Invasion.[1]
When Phil Coulson refused to obey the direct order of handing over Ian Quinn for interrogation and transport him to the Fridge, John Garrett and Antoine Triplett were sent in a S.H.I.E.L.D. Jump Jet to reach the Bus with two F-35s escorting them.[2]
Alternate Versions[]
| Origin | Status | Builder | Owners | Users | Passengers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chitauri Helicarrier Attack Universe | Active | - | S.H.I.E.L.D. | - | - |
Appearances[]
In chronological order:
The Avengers
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. | Episode 1.14: T.A.H.I.T.I.- Captain America: Civil War
- She-Hulk: Attorney at Law | Episode 1.01: A Normal Amount of Rage (mentioned)
Trivia[]
- During the Battle of New York, the nuclear missile launched by the S.H.I.E.L.D. F-35 is shown in Iron Man's HUD as being an AGM-154 JSOW (Joint Standoff Weapon). However, this is incorrect for two reasons. Firstly, the AGM-154 is a glide bomb, not a missile, and thus is unpowered. Secondly, the AGM-154 is not nuclear-capable. These facts suggest that the missile shown during the battle is a powered, nuclear variant of the AGM-154, likely developed either for or by S.H.I.E.L.D.
Behind the Scenes[]
- The F-35 design depicted differs from the real aircraft in several ways; the air intakes are more rounded and feature a more conventional diverter design as opposed to the divertless supersonic inlet (DSI) used on the real aircraft, the Electro Optical Targeting System (EOTS) is missing from under the nose, it seems to lacks radar absorbing material (RAM) as evidenced by the more metallic paint, and the overall proportions differ slightly.
- The F-35 featured in The Avengers is the F-35B. When engaging with Hulk, it uses two cannons shooting from the air intakes. The real F-35B lacks any on-board guns, as only the F-35A is equipped with an internal gun, located above the port air intake.
- F-35 pilots in the movie are not wearing the Gen III HMDS helmet made specifically for the aircraft, instead opting a more conventional helmets resembling the HGU-55. The HMDS is an integral part of the F-35 as the plane lacks a HUD display, as it displays everything in the helmet directly.
- The movie was intended to feature real F-35 aircraft, but the United States Department of Defense did not give permission due to the unclear loyalties of S.H.I.E.L.D. and its nature as a covert extra-governmental organization.[3]
