It was the USMC/RAF version of the F-35 "Joint Strike Fighter".

What the pilot w as doing was something called "Viffing" (Vectoring In Forward Flight), a tactic discovered by the RAF/RN in the Falklands War of 1982. The idea is to move the t hrust using the nozzles ( or nozzle in the F35's case),i.e. "vectoring", to incr ease the maneuverability of the aircraft. The MAJOR downside to this, is the los s of energy sustained. Making you run out of airspeed, altitude, and ideas. A ve ry bad place to be in a combat situation, whether air/air or air/mud. This was a lso discovered in the Falklands War, and is not normally practiced anymore by AV 8/Harrier crews. Incidentally, although the movie shows the evil hackers breaking into the weapon s release on the jet, which isn't really possible, a much more plausible and rea listic move would've been to transmit video of the truck and designate it with a laser. The capability of ground guys being able to transmit images (EO/IR) and designated targets from the ground or an unmanned vehicle IS being built into th e F-35.