Which Lightning II variant is CATOBAR?

Which Lightning II variant is CATOBAR?

• A. F-35C
• B. F-35A
• C. F-35B
• D. F-35D

Answer: (A)

CATOBAR describes carrier aviation that uses a catapult to launch aircraft and arresting gear to recover them. The Lightning II variant built for that approach is the carrier version, which includes a catapult-compatible airframe, reinforced landing gear, and a tailhook for arrested landings, enabling it to launch from and recover on catapult-equipped carriers. The other variants are designed for different launch methods: the conventional takeoff and landing version is operated from land bases with runways; the short takeoff and vertical landing version is built for STOVL operations on ships without catapults; and the Navy’s experimental variant never became a standard production model. So the variant that is CATOBAR is the carrier-focused version.

CATOBAR describes carrier aviation that uses a catapult to launch aircraft and arresting gear to recover them. The Lightning II variant built for that approach is the carrier version, which includes a catapult-compatible airframe, reinforced landing gear, and a tailhook for arrested landings, enabling it to launch from and recover on catapult-equipped carriers. The other variants are designed for different launch methods: the conventional takeoff and landing version is operated from land bases with runways; the short takeoff and vertical landing version is built for STOVL operations on ships without catapults; and the Navy’s experimental variant never became a standard production model. So the variant that is CATOBAR is the carrier-focused version.