F-35B Lightning II aircraft takes off and lands on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). The F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) variant is the world’s first supersonic STOVL stealth aircraft. USS America, with Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 (VMX-1), Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 (VMFA-211) and Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23 (VX-23) embarked, are underway conducting Developmental Test Phase III for the F-35B Lightning II aircraft. The tests will evaluate the full spectrum of joint strike fighter measures of suitability and effectiveness in an at-sea environment.