‘Legally Copied’ By Lockheed Martin – Was US Navy’s F-35B, China’s J-20 Derived From Soviet-Russian

As the F-35 stealth jets could confront Russian fighters at some point in Europe, the plane and its design were a direct derivative of a former Soviet Union project that could not be completed when the Communist superpower collapsed – the Yakovlev Yak-141.

The Short/Vertical Take-Off and Landing (SVTOL) F-35B naval variant could be called a direct derivative of the Yak-141.

The Russian company had turned to Lockheed Martin in 1991 following the USSR’s dissolution to fund around $350 million when a weakened Russia was trying to normalize ties with Washington.

It is reflected in the single vectoring nozzle located behind the center of gravity and dedicated vertically positioned thrust jets just behind the engine of the Yak-141 that is shared by the F-35B.

To know more: https://eurasiantimes.com/legally-copied-by-lockheed-martin-was-us-navys-f-35b-fighter/