A Lockheed Martin [LMT] F-35B Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing (STOVL) Lightning II test aircraft recently completed the first-ever Vertical Takeoff (VTO) on May 10.

VTOs are one of the many capabilities required for the fielding an F-35B aircraft.

While not a combat capability, VTOs are required for repositioning of the STOVL in environments where a jet could not perform a short takeoff.

In these cases, the jet, with a limited amount of fuel, would execute a VTO to travel a short distance.