The 70 (m) million pound (93 million US dollar) F-35B Lightning II jet embarked on its maiden 10-hour transatlantic flight, accompanied by two US Marine Corps F-35B aircraft from their training base at Beaufort, South Carolina.

The combined crew arrived on British soil to demonstrate the aircraft's capabilities and are expected to fly at the Royal International Air Tattoo and Farnborough International Air Show over the next few weeks.

It was the first of a number of aircraft that the UK will buy and are due to enter service with the Royal Navy and RAF from 2018.

Air Vice Marshal Gerry Mayhew said the first jet's arrival was "history in the making" and that the F-35 would revolutionise how the RAF operates around the world.

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