EDIT: Well, strictly-speaking, that page was talking about proposed paint jobs. So I don’t know for sure whether the proposed paint job wound up on a plane.
looks further
Here’s an actual photo of a 65th Aggressor Squadron F-35. Similar, but not the same:
hits Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Lollipop-F-35-Interceptor-Toy-Experience/dp/B0D9KVD4DG
This appears to be the toy in question. Also:
“Interceptor?”
Anyway.
Apparently, based on that, Brooklyn Lolipop is the company in question. It appears to be an importer, not a manufacturer.
https://www.trademark.af.mil/Current-Licensees/
So apparently the company in question is indeed an official licensee.
investigates further
https://www.trademark.af.mil/Licensing/Apply-for-a-License/
I dunno about the appropriateness…
sudden idea
kagis
Ahhhh.
It’s a real paint job on real USAF aircraft.
The USAF uses it for aggressor training.
https://theaviationgeekclub.com/here-are-some-of-the-paint-schemes-that-future-f-35-aggressors-could-wear/amp/
Going off the above page, it’s apparently the 65th Aggressor Squadron’s colors.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/65th_Aggressor_Squadron
EDIT: Well, strictly-speaking, that page was talking about proposed paint jobs. So I don’t know for sure whether the proposed paint job wound up on a plane.
looks further
Here’s an actual photo of a 65th Aggressor Squadron F-35. Similar, but not the same:
https://x.com/Fighterman_FFRC/status/1565493649277718528
Unless there’s some other variant – which I couldn’t find in some quick image searches – my guess is that that’s probably what they use.
The F-15s that they used to use apparently have a paint job that’s closer to the one on the F-35 toy:
https://www.nellis.af.mil/About/High-End-Training/igphoto/2000206573/
EDIT2: The image at the above link apparently doesn’t show up on mobile unless you set your browser to desktop mode.
Aggressor squadron was my first assumption when I saw the paint job
I remember reading recently that they had started using F35s since more opponent nations are fielding reduced RCS aircraft