Following on from the principles developed in the operation of the UK's previous STOVL aircraft, the Harrier, the formation is a joint organisation falling under RAF Air Command.

The Lightning Force concept was established during the planning stages for the introduction into UK service of the F-35B (the Joint Combat Aircraft), taking the idea that had previously been put in place for the operation of the Harrier.

[2] These would be tasked primarily with operating from the Royal Navy's new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, as well as from deployed air bases.

[4] In the summer of 2018, 617 Squadron began the process of bringing its new aircraft across the Atlantic to the home base of the new Lightning Force, RAF Marham in Norfolk.

[16] In October 2019, Lightnings of 17 Squadron became the first UK-owned examples to begin operating from HMS Queen Elizabeth during the ship's Westlant 19 deployment to the United States, which saw the second-stage flying trials undertaken to continue preparations for the eventual declaration of carrier strike capability.

[20] According to an FOI(A) answered in June 2021, squadrons with the F-35 report to HQ Combat Air Force based at RAF Coningsby.