Also known as: VF-4
A Variable Fighter mecha from the MACROSS universe.
The VF-4 Lightning III is the succesor to the VF-1 manned transformable aerospace mecha from The Super Dimension Fortress Macross. It first appeared in the Macross Flashback 2012 OVA from 1987. Early prototypes had the VFX-4 designation.
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-11 Thunderbolt several years later.
The mecha was called the VF-4 Lightning Veritech in the Robotech adaptation.
The VF-4 was designed by Kawamori Shouji.