A F-35B Lightning II aircraft from the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 launches from the deck aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex as part of the F-35B's first combat strike, against a Taliban target in Afghanistan, September 27, 2018.
Navy/Handout via REUTERS/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 18 (Reuters) - The U.S. military said on Monday it was still searching for an F-35 fighter jet after a mishap on Sunday near an air base in South Carolina and has asked for the public's help locating it.
The pilot of the F-35B Lightning II jet ejected safely from the aircraft, according to a statement from Joint Base Charleston.
The fighter jet's main advantages, according to its manufacturer, Lockheed Martin (LMT.N), are that it is nearly impossible to track with radar and is packed with advanced sensors and other gear.
Based on the jet's last known position, the base said search efforts were focused north of the base around Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion.
Persons:
Matthew Freeman, Lockheed Martin, Phil Stewart, David Shepardson, Leslie Adler
Organizations:
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron, U.S . Navy, REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Joint Base, Base Defense Operations Center, Twitter, Lockheed, ., Thomson
Locations:
Essex, Afghanistan, South Carolina, Lake Moultrie, Lake Marion