Start building your LEGO Air Force today with this Mini LEGO Custom F-35 Lightning fighter jet! This Custom Set is made from 100% real LEGO bricks. Small, but mighty this Mini F-35 is 6 inches long and is built by using 76 LEGO pieces, including 32 unique pieces. This set arrives un-assembled and includes printed, easy to follow instructions that take you step by step through this fun build! I take great pride in designing and offering these sets using 100% new LEGO, and hope to inspire others to get building! -Thanks Matt
The F-35 Lightning II’s history began in the 1990s as the U.S. Department of Defense sought a next-generation, multirole stealth fighter to replace aging aircraft like the F-16, F/A-18, and AV-8B Harrier across the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps. Emerging from the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program, launched in 1993, the project aimed to create a cost-effective, unified platform with variants for different service needs. Lockheed Martin’s X-35 beat Boeing’s X-32 in a 2001 fly-off, leveraging a innovative lift-fan system for short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) capability. The F-35A (conventional takeoff), F-35B (STOVL), and F-35C (carrier-based) variants took shape, with the first production F-35A rolling out in 2006, though its complexity and ambitious scope soon sparked delays and budget overruns.
The F-35’s early years were marred by technical challenges and criticism. Its first flight occurred on December 15, 2006, at Fort Worth, Texas, piloted by Jon Beesley, but software glitches, sensor fusion issues, and engine troubles (with the Pratt & Whitney F135) pushed costs beyond $400 billion—making it the most expensive weapons program in history. Initial operational capability (IOC) lagged: the Marine Corps declared the F-35B ready in 2015, followed by the Air Force’s F-35A in 2016 and the Navy’s F-35C in 2019. Critics pointed to its high maintenance demands—up to 50 hours per flight hour—and early reliability woes, yet its stealth, networked sensors, and ability to share real-time data with allied forces showcased a leap beyond fourth-generation jets.
By the 2010s, the F-35 entered combat and global service, proving its worth despite lingering debates. The Israeli Air Force first used it in anger in 2018, striking targets in Syria, leveraging its low-observable design to penetrate contested airspace. U.S. F-35s followed in Afghanistan (2019) and Iraq, dropping precision munitions like the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb. Over 15 nations—including the UK, Japan, and Australia—adopted the jet, with production surpassing 1,000 units by 2023 at Lockheed’s Fort Worth plant. Block 4 upgrades, rolled out incrementally through the 2020s, added new weapons (e.g., hypersonic missiles) and fixed earlier flaws, though software updates and parts shortages occasionally grounded fleets, frustrating operators like the U.S. Air Force, which briefly paused deliveries in 2022 over quality concerns.
As of 2025, the F-35 Lightning II remains a cornerstone of Western air power, with over 1,200 delivered and production slated to continue into the 2030s. Its annual operating cost—around $44,000 per flight hour—has dropped from earlier peaks, and the jet now flies over 500,000 hours collectively, supporting missions from NATO patrols to Pacific deterrence against China. Critics still question its cost-effectiveness compared to cheaper alternatives like the F-16, while proponents highlight its unmatched sensor fusion and stealth, critical for future wars. With sixth-generation fighters like NGAD on the horizon, the F-35’s role is evolving from a troubled experiment to a mature, if pricey, workhorse—its legacy tied to both technological triumph and the lessons of overambition.
Guarantee: All sets come with a 100% money back guarantee. If you are not satisfied for any reason- just ship it back for a 100% refund. -Thanks Matt
Shipping Info:
You will get an email with USPS tracking info once it ships. These sets ship securely in a white, sturdy, corrugated cardboard BLOCKJets mailer box. The box will then be sealed in a white poly mailer bag to protect your set and the printed color instructions from the elements during transit and delivery.
DISCLAIMER: This is not a LEGO® Product. These are new LEGO elements that have been repackaged. LEGO is a trademark of the LEGO Group, which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse this product. The LEGO Group and BLOCK Jets are not liable for any loss, injury or damage arising from the use or misuse of this product.
