The Lightning is faster, more maneuverable, can generate more thrust than the standard VF-1 Valkyrie, and is armed with internal missile bays and dual beam arm cannons in addition to the same traditional GU-11 gunpod found in the VF-1.
More advanced variants included improved thermonuclear engines and an additional head-mounted laser cannon for defense. It was eventually succeeded by the VF-11Thunderbolt several years later.
