To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many successful shipborne rolling vertical landings have taken place using the F-35B with (a) an empty weapons load and (b) the maximum weight weapons configuration to date.

No shipborne rolling vertical landings have taken place with an F-35B. The plan is to commence this activity in 2018 as part of First of Class Flying Trials. Ahead of these trials there is a range of de-risking work being undertaken which includes aircraft trials and synthetic modelling. The concept has already been demonstrated on the French carrier Charles de Gaulle using a modified Harrier aircraft. The primary approach aid was tested on HMS Illustrious.