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Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II

March 16, 2023

"F35" redirects here. For other uses, see F35 (disambiguation).

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is an American family of single-seat, single-engine, all-weather stealth multirole combat aircraft that is intended to perform both air superiority and strike missions. It is also able to provide electronic warfare and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. Lockheed Martin is the prime F-35 contractor, with principal partners Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. The aircraft has three main variants: the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) F-35A, the short take-off and vertical-landing (STOVL) F-35B, and the carrier-based (CV/CATOBAR) F-35C.

F-35 Lightning II
A U.S. Air Force F-35A off the coast of Florida
Role Multirole fighter
National origin United States
Manufacturer Lockheed Martin
First flight 15 December 2006; 16 years ago (2006-12-15) (F-35A)
Introduction
  • F-35B: 31 July 2015 (USMC)[1]
  • F-35A: 2 August 2016 (USAF)[2]
  • F-35C: 28 February 2019 (USN)[3]
Status In production
Primary users United States Air Force
Produced 2006–present
Number built 890+ as of March 2023[4]
Developed from Lockheed Martin X-35

The aircraft descends from the Lockheed Martin X-35, which in 2001 beat the Boeing X-32 to win the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. Its development is principally funded by the United States, with additional funding from program partner countries from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and close U.S. allies, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Italy, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and formerly Turkey.[5][6][7] Several other countries have also ordered, or are considering ordering, the aircraft. The program has drawn much scrutiny and criticism for its unprecedented size, complexity, ballooning costs, and much-delayed deliveries.[8][N 1] The acquisition strategy of concurrent production of the aircraft while it was still in development and testing led to expensive design changes and retrofits.[10][11]

The F-35 first flew in 2006 and entered service with the U.S. Marine Corps F-35B in July 2015, followed by the U.S. Air Force F-35A in August 2016 and the U.S. Navy F-35C in February 2019.[1][2][3] The aircraft was first used in combat in 2018 by the Israeli Air Force.[12] The U.S. plans to buy 2,456 F-35s through 2044, which will represent the bulk of the crewed tactical aviation of the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps for several decades; the aircraft is planned to be a cornerstone of NATO and U.S.-allied air power and to operate until 2070.[13][14]

Development

Main article: Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II development

Program origins

The F-35 was the product of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program, which was the merger of various combat aircraft programs from the 1980s and 1990s. One progenitor program was the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Advanced Short Take-Off/Vertical Landing (ASTOVL) which ran from 1983 to 1994; ASTOVL aimed to develop a Harrier jump jet replacement for the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) and the U.K. Royal Navy. Under one of ASTOVL's classified programs, the Supersonic STOVL Fighter (SSF), Lockheed Skunk Works conducted research for a stealthy supersonic STOVL fighter intended for both U.S. Air Force (USAF) and USMC; a key technology explored was the shaft-driven lift fan (SDLF) system. Lockheed's concept was a single-engine canard delta aircraft weighing about 24,000 lb (11,000 kg) empty. ASTOVL was rechristened as the Common Affordable Lightweight Fighter (CALF) in 1993 and involved Lockheed, McDonnell Douglas, and Boeing.[15][16]

In 1993, the Joint Advanced Strike Technology (JAST) program emerged following the cancellation of the USAF's Multi-Role Fighter (MRF) and U.S. Navy's (USN) Advanced Fighter-Attack (A/F-X) programs. MRF, a program for a relatively affordable F-16 replacement, was scaled back and delayed due to post–Cold War defense posture easing F-16 fleet usage and thus extending its service life as well as increasing budget pressure from the F-22 Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program. The A/F-X, initially known as the Advanced-Attack (A-X), began in 1991 as the USN's follow-on to the Advanced Tactical Aircraft (ATA) program for an A-6 replacement; the ATA's resulting A-12 Avenger II had been canceled due to technical problems and cost overruns in 1991. In the same year, the termination of the Naval Advanced Tactical Fighter (NATF), a naval development of USAF's ATF program to replace the F-14, resulted in additional fighter capability being added to A-X, which was then renamed A/F-X. Amid increased budget pressure, the Department of Defense's (DoD) Bottom-Up Review (BUR) in September 1993 announced MRF's and A/F-X's cancellations, with applicable experience brought to the emerging JAST program.[16] JAST was not meant to develop a new aircraft, but rather to develop requirements, mature technologies, and demonstrate concepts for advanced strike warfare.[17]

As JAST progressed, the need for concept demonstrator aircraft by 1996 emerged, which would coincide with the full-scale flight demonstrator phase of ASTOVL/CALF. Because the ASTOVL/CALF concept appeared to align with the JAST charter, the two programs were eventually merged in 1994 under the JAST name, with the program now serving the USAF, USMC, and USN.[17] JAST was subsequently renamed to Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) in 1995, with STOVL submissions by McDonnell Douglas, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin,[N 2] and Boeing. The JSF was expected to eventually replace large numbers of multi-role and strike fighters in the inventories of the US and its allies, including the Harrier, F-16, F/A-18, A-10, and F-117.[18]

International participation is a key aspect of the JSF program, starting with United Kingdom participation in the ASTOVL program. Many international partners requiring modernization of their air forces were interested in the JSF. The United Kingdom joined JAST/JSF as a founding member in 1995 and thus became the only Tier 1 partner of the JSF program;[19] Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Canada, Australia, and Turkey joined the program during the Concept Demonstration Phase (CDP), with Italy and the Netherlands being Tier 2 partners and the rest Tier 3. Consequently, the aircraft was developed in cooperation with international partners and available for export.[20]

JSF competition

Main articles: Joint Strike Fighter program and Lockheed Martin X-35

Boeing and Lockheed Martin were selected in early 1997 for CDP, with their concept demonstrator aircraft designated X-32 and X-35 respectively; the McDonnell Douglas team was eliminated and Northrop Grumman and British Aerospace joined the Lockheed Martin team. Each firm would produce two prototype air vehicles to demonstrate conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL), carrier takeoff and landing (CV), and STOVL.[N 3] Lockheed Martin's design would make use of the work on the SDLF system conducted under the ASTOVL/CALF program. The key aspect of the X-35 that enabled STOVL operation, the SDLF system consists of the lift fan in the forward center fuselage that could be activated by engaging a clutch that connects the driveshaft to the turbines and thus augmenting the thrust from the engine's swivel nozzle. Research from prior aircraft incorporating similar systems, such as the Convair Model 200,[N 4] Rockwell XFV-12, and Yakovlev Yak-141, were also taken into consideration.[22][23][24] By contrast, Boeing's X-32 employed direct lift system that the augmented turbofan would be reconfigured to when engaging in STOVL operation.

 
X-35B flying over Edwards Air Force Base

Lockheed Martin's commonality strategy was to replace the STOVL variant's SDLF with a fuel tank and the aft swivel nozzle with a two-dimensional thrust vectoring nozzle for the CTOL variant.[N 5] This would enable identical aerodynamic configuration for the STOVL and CTOL variants, while the CV variant would have an enlarged wing to reduce landing speed for carrier recovery.[25] Due to aerodynamic characteristics and carrier recovery requirements from the JAST merger, the design configuration settled on a conventional tail compared to the canard delta design from the ASTOVL/CALF; notably, the conventional tail configuration offers much lower risk for carrier recovery compared to the ASTOVL/CALF canard configuration, which was designed without carrier compatibility in mind. This enabled greater commonality between all three variants, as the commonality goal was important at this design stage.[25] Lockheed Martin's prototypes would consist of the X-35A for demonstrating CTOL before converting it to the X-35B for STOVL demonstration and the larger-winged X-35C for CV compatibility demonstration.[26]

The X-35A first flew on 24 October 2000 and conducted flight tests for subsonic and supersonic flying qualities, handling, range, and maneuver performance.[27] After 28 flights, the aircraft was then converted into the X-35B for STOVL testing, with key changes including the addition of the SDLF, the three-bearing swivel module (3BSM), and roll-control ducts. The X-35B would successfully demonstrate the SDLF system by performing stable hover, vertical landing, and short takeoff in less than 500 ft (150 m).[25][28] The X-35C first flew on 16 December 2000 and conducted field landing carrier practice tests.[27]

On 26 October 2001, Lockheed Martin was declared the winner and was awarded the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) contract; Pratt & Whitney was separately awarded a development contract for the F135 engine for the JSF.[29] The F-35 designation, which was out of sequence with standard DoD numbering, was allegedly determined on the spot by program manager Major General Mike Hough; this came as a surprise even to Lockheed Martin, which had expected the F-24 designation for the JSF.[30]

Design and production

 
An F-35 wind tunnel testing model in 16-foot (5 m) transonic wind tunnel at the Arnold Engineering Development Center

As the JSF program moved into the System Development and Demonstration phase, the X-35 demonstrator design was modified to create the F-35 combat aircraft. The forward fuselage was lengthened by 5 inches (13 cm) to make room for mission avionics, while the horizontal stabilizers were moved 2 inches (5.1 cm) aft to retain balance and control. The diverterless supersonic inlet changed from a four-sided to a three-sided cowl shape and was moved 30 inches (76 cm) aft. The fuselage section was fuller, the top surface raised by 1 inch (2.5 cm) along the centerline to accommodate weapons bays. Following the designation of the X-35 prototypes, the three variants were designated F-35A (CTOL), F-35B (STOVL), and F-35C (CV), all with a design service life of 8,000 hours. Prime contractor Lockheed Martin performs overall systems integration and final assembly and checkout (FACO) at Fort Worth, Texas,[N 6] while Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems supply components for mission systems and airframe.[31][32]

Adding the systems of a fighter aircraft added weight. The F-35B gained the most, largely due to a 2003 decision to enlarge the weapons bays for commonality between variants; the total weight growth was reportedly up to 2,200 pounds (1,000 kg), over 8%, causing all STOVL key performance parameter (KPP) thresholds to be missed.[33] In December 2003, the STOVL Weight Attack Team (SWAT) was formed to reduce the weight increase; changes included thinned airframe members, smaller weapons bays and vertical stabilizers, less thrust fed to the roll-post outlets, and redesigning the wing-mate joint, electrical elements, and the airframe immediately aft of the cockpit. The inlet was also revised to accommodate more powerful, greater mass flow engines.[34][35] Many changes from the SWAT effort were applied to all three variants for commonality. By September 2004, these efforts had reduced the F-35B's weight by over 3,000 pounds (1,400 kg), while the F-35A and F-35C were reduced in weight by 2,400 pounds (1,100 kg) and 1,900 pounds (860 kg) respectively.[25][36] The weight reduction work cost $6.2 billion and caused an 18-month delay.[37]

 
The first F-35A prototype, AA-1, being towed to its inauguration ceremony on 7 July 2006

The first F-35A, designated AA-1, was rolled out at Fort Worth on 19 February 2006 and first flew on 15 December 2006.[N 7][38] In 2006, the F-35 was given the name "Lightning II" after the Lockheed P-38 Lightning of World War II.[39] Some USAF pilots have nicknamed the aircraft "Panther" instead.[40]

The aircraft's software was developed as six releases, or Blocks, for SDD. The first two Blocks, 1A and 1B, readied the F-35 for initial pilot training and multi-level security. Block 2A improved the training capabilities, while 2B was the first combat-ready release planned for the USMC's Initial Operating Capability (IOC). Block 3i retains the capabilities of 2B while having new hardware and was planned for the USAF's IOC. The final release for SDD, Block 3F, would have full flight envelope and all baseline combat capabilities. Alongside software releases, each block also incorporates avionics hardware updates and air vehicle improvements from flight and structural testing.[41] In what is known as "concurrency", some low rate initial production (LRIP) aircraft lots would be delivered in early Block configurations and eventually upgraded to Block 3F once development is complete.[42] After 17,000 flight test hours, the final flight for the SDD phase was completed in April 2018.[43] Like the F-22, the F-35 has been targeted by cyberattacks and technology theft efforts, as well as potential vulnerabilities in the integrity of the supply chain.[44][45][46]

Testing found several major problems: early F-35B airframes had premature cracking,[N 8] the F-35C arrestor hook design was unreliable, fuel tanks were too vulnerable to lightning strikes, the helmet display had problems, and more. Software was repeatedly delayed due to its unprecedented scope and complexity. In 2009, the DoD Joint Estimate Team (JET) estimated that the program was 30 months behind the public schedule.[47][48] In 2011, the program was "re-baselined"; that is, its cost and schedule goals were changed, pushing the IOC from the planned 2010 to July 2015.[49][50] The decision to simultaneously test, fix defects, and begin production was criticized as inefficient; in 2014, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition Frank Kendall called it "acquisition malpractice".[51] The three variants shared just 25% of their parts, far below the anticipated commonality of 70%.[52] The program received considerable criticism for cost overruns and for the total projected lifetime cost, as well as quality management shortcomings by contractors.[53][54]

The JSF program was expected to cost about $200 billion for acquisition in base-year 2002 dollars when SDD was awarded in 2001.[55][56] As early as 2005, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) had identified major program risks in cost and schedule.[57] The costly delays strained the relationship between the Pentagon and contractors.[58] By 2017, delays and cost overruns had pushed the F-35 program's expected acquisition costs to $406.5 billion, with total lifetime cost (i.e., to 2070) to $1.5 trillion in then-year dollars which also includes operations and maintenance.[59][60][61] The F-35A's unit cost for LRIP Lot 13 was $79.2 million.[62] Delays in development and operational test and evaluation pushed full-rate production to 2023.[63][64]

Upgrades and further development

 
USAF F-35A at RAF Fairford for RIAT 2018

The first combat-capable Block 2B configuration, which had basic air-to-air and strike capabilities, was declared ready by the USMC in July 2015.[1] The Block 3F configuration began operational test and evaluation (OT&E) in December 2018, the completion of which will conclude SDD.[65] The F-35 program is also conducting sustainment and upgrade development, with early LRIP aircraft gradually upgraded to the baseline Block 3F standard by 2021.[66]

The F-35 is expected to be continually upgraded over its lifetime. The first upgrade program, called Continuous Capability Development and Delivery (C2D2) began in 2019 and is currently planned to run to 2024. The near-term development priority of C2D2 is Block 4, which would integrate additional weapons, including those unique to international customers, refresh the avionics, improve ESM capabilities, and add Remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receiver (ROVER) support.[67] C2D2 also places greater emphasis on agile software development to enable quicker releases.[68] In 2018, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) awarded contracts to General Electric and Pratt & Whitney to develop more powerful and efficient adaptive cycle engines for potential application in the F-35, leveraging the research done under the Adaptive Engine Transition Program (AETP); in 2022, the F-35 Adaptive Engine Replacement (FAER) program was launched to integrate adaptive cycle engines into the aircraft by 2028.[69][70]

Defense contractors have offered upgrades to the F-35 outside of official program contracts. In 2013, Northrop Grumman disclosed its development of a directional infrared countermeasures suite, named Threat Nullification Defensive Resource (ThNDR). The countermeasure system would share the same space as the Distributed Aperture System (DAS) sensors and acts as a laser missile jammer to protect against infrared-homing missiles.[71]

Israel wants more access to the core avionics to include their own equipment.[72]

In September 2022, the F-35 delivery was temporarily suspended after determining Chinese sourced materials were used in Honeywell pumps.[73]

Procurement and international participation

The United States is the primary customer and financial backer, with planned procurement of 1,763 F-35As for the USAF, 353 F-35Bs and 67 F-35Cs for the USMC, and 273 F-35Cs for the USN.[74] Additionally, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Australia, Norway, Denmark and Canada have agreed to contribute US$4.375 billion towards development costs, with the United Kingdom contributing about 10% of the planned development costs as the sole Tier 1 partner.[19] The initial plan was that the U.S. and eight major partner countries would acquire over 3,100 F-35s through 2035.[75] The three tiers of international participation generally reflect financial stake in the program, the amount of technology transfer and subcontracts open for bid by national companies, and the order in which countries can obtain production aircraft.[76] Alongside program partner countries, Israel and Singapore have joined as Security Cooperative Participants (SCP).[77][78][79] Sales to SCP and non-partner states, including Belgium, Japan, and South Korea, are made through the Pentagon's Foreign Military Sales program.[7][80] Turkey was removed from the F-35 program in July 2019 over security concerns following its purchase of a Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile system.[81][82][N 9]

Design

Overview

The F-35 is a family of single-engine, supersonic, stealth multirole fighters.[84] The second fifth generation fighter to enter US service and the first operational supersonic STOVL stealth fighter, the F-35 emphasizes low observables, advanced avionics and sensor fusion that enable a high level of situational awareness and long range lethality;[85][86][87] the USAF considers the aircraft its primary strike fighter for conducting suppression of enemy air defense (SEAD) missions, owing to the advanced sensors and mission systems.[88]

 
(From the top) F-35A of the 33rd FW, F-35B of VMFAT-501 and F-35C of VFA-101 near Eglin AFB, 2014

The F-35 has a wing-tail configuration with two vertical stabilizers canted for stealth. Flight control surfaces include leading-edge flaps, flaperons,[N 10] rudders, and all-moving horizontal tails (stabilators); leading edge root extensions also run forwards to the inlets. The relatively short 35-foot wingspan of the F-35A and F-35B is set by the requirement to fit inside USN amphibious assault ship parking areas and elevators; the F-35C's larger wing is more fuel efficient.[89][90] The fixed diverterless supersonic inlets (DSI) use a bumped compression surface and forward-swept cowl to shed the boundary layer of the forebody away from the inlets, which form a Y-duct for the engine.[91] Structurally, the F-35 drew upon lessons from the F-22; composites comprise 35% of airframe weight, with the majority being bismaleimide and composite epoxy materials as well as some carbon nanotube-reinforced epoxy in later production lots.[92][93][94] The F-35 is considerably heavier than the lightweight fighters it replaces, with the lightest variant having an empty weight of 29,300 lb (13,300 kg); much of the weight can be attributed to the internal weapons bays and the extensive avionics carried.[95]

While lacking the raw performance of the larger twin-engine F-22, the F-35 has kinematics competitive with fourth generation fighters such as the F-16 and F/A-18, especially with ordnance mounted because the F-35's internal weapons carriage eliminates parasitic drag from external stores.[96] All variants have a top speed of Mach 1.6, attainable with full internal payload. The powerful F135 engine gives good subsonic acceleration and energy, with supersonic dash in afterburner. The large stabilitors, leading edge extensions and flaps, and canted rudders provide excellent high alpha (angle-of-attack) characteristics, with a trimmed alpha of 50°. Relaxed stability and fly-by-wire controls provide excellent handling qualities and departure resistance.[97][98] Having over double the F-16's internal fuel, the F-35 has a considerably greater combat radius, while stealth also enables a more efficient mission flight profile.[99]

Sensors and avionics

 
Electro-optical target system (EOTS) under the nose of an F-35

The F-35's mission systems are among the most complex aspects of the aircraft. The avionics and sensor fusion are designed to enhance the pilot's situational awareness and command and control capabilities and facilitate network-centric warfare.[84][100] Key sensors include the Northrop Grumman AN/APG-81 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, BAE Systems AN/ASQ-239 Barracuda electronic warfare system, Northrop Grumman/Raytheon AN/AAQ-37 Distributed Aperture System (DAS), Lockheed Martin AN/AAQ-40 Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) and Northrop Grumman AN/ASQ-242 Communications, Navigation, and Identification (CNI) suite. The F-35 was designed with sensor intercommunication to provide a cohesive image of the local battlespace and availability for any possible use and combination with one another; for example, the APG-81 radar also acts as a part of the electronic warfare system.[101]

Much of the F-35's software was developed in C and C++ programming languages, while Ada83 code from the F-22 was also used; the Block 3F software has 8.6 million lines of code.[102][103] The Green Hills Software Integrity DO-178B real-time operating system (RTOS) runs on integrated core processors (ICPs); data networking includes the IEEE 1394b and Fibre Channel buses.[104][105] To enable fleet software upgrades for the software-defined radio systems and greater upgrade flexibility and affordability, the avionics leverage commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components when practical.[106][107][108] The mission systems software, particularly for sensor fusion, was one of the program's most difficult parts and responsible for substantial program delays.[N 11][110][111]

 
AN/APG-81 AESA radar antenna

The APG-81 radar uses electronic scanning for rapid beam agility and incorporates passive and active air-to-air modes, strike modes, and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) capability, with multiple target track-while-scan at ranges in excess of 80 nmi (150 km). The antenna is tilted backwards for stealth.[112] Complementing the radar is the AAQ-37 DAS, which consists of six infrared sensors that provide all-aspect missile launch warning and target tracking; the DAS acts as a situational awareness infrared search-and-track (SAIRST) and gives the pilot spherical infrared and night-vision imagery on the helmet visor.[113] The ASQ-239 Barracuda electronic warfare system has ten radio frequency antennas embedded into the edges of the wing and tail for all-aspect radar warning receiver (RWR). It also provides sensor fusion of radio frequency and infrared tracking functions, geolocation threat targeting, and multispectral image countermeasures for self-defense against missiles. The electronic warfare system is capable of detecting and jamming hostile radars.[114] The AAQ-40 EOTS is mounted internally behind a faceted low-observable window under the nose and performs laser targeting, forward-looking infrared (FLIR), and long range IRST functions.[115] The ASQ-242 CNI suite uses a half dozen different physical links, including the directional Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL), for covert CNI functions.[116][117] Through sensor fusion, information from radio frequency receivers and infrared sensors are combined to form a single tactical picture for the pilot. The all-aspect target direction and identification can be shared via MADL to other platforms without compromising low observability, while Link 16 is present for communication with legacy systems.[118]

The F-35 was designed from the outset to incorporate improved processors, sensors, and software enhancements over its lifespan. Technology Refresh 3, which includes a new core processor and a new cockpit display, is planned for Lot 15 aircraft.[119] Lockheed Martin has offered the Advanced EOTS for the Block 4 configuration; the improved sensor fits into the same area as the baseline EOTS with minimal changes.[120] In June 2018, Lockheed Martin picked Raytheon for improved DAS.[121] The USAF has studied the potential for the F-35 to orchestrate attacks by unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) via its sensors and communications equipment.[122]

A new radar called the AN/APG-85 is planned for Block 4 F-35s.[123] According to the JPO the new radar will be compatible with all three major F-35 variants. However, it is unclear if older aircraft will be retrofitted with the new radar.[123]

Stealth and signatures

 
Note the sawtooth design on the landing gear door and access panels

Stealth is a key aspect of the F-35's design, and radar cross-section (RCS) is minimized through careful shaping of the airframe and the use of radar-absorbent materials (RAM); visible measures to reduce RCS include alignment of edges, serration of skin panels, and the masking of the engine face and turbine. Additionally, the F-35's diverterless supersonic inlet (DSI) uses a compression bump and forward-swept cowl rather than a splitter gap or bleed system to divert the boundary layer away from the inlet duct, eliminating the diverter cavity and further reducing radar signature.[91][124] The RCS of the F-35 has been characterized as lower than a metal golf ball at certain frequencies and angles; in some conditions, the F-35 compares favorably to the F-22 in stealth.[125][126][127] For maintainability, the F-35's stealth design took lessons learned from prior stealth aircraft such as the F-22; the F-35's radar-absorbent fibermat skin is more durable and requires less maintenance than older topcoats.[128] The aircraft also has reduced infrared and visual signatures as well as strict controls of radio frequency emitters to prevent their detection.[129][130][131] The F-35's stealth design is primarily focused on high-frequency X-band wavelengths;[132] low-frequency radars can spot stealthy aircraft due to Rayleigh scattering, but such radars are also conspicuous, susceptible to clutter, and lack precision.[133][134][135] To disguise its RCS, the aircraft can mount four Luneburg lens reflectors.[136]

Noise from the F-35 caused concerns in residential areas near potential bases for the aircraft, and residents near two such bases—Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, and Eglin Air Force Base (AFB), Florida—requested environmental impact studies in 2008 and 2009 respectively.[137] Although the noise level in decibels were comparable to those of prior fighters such as the F-16, the sound power of the F-35 is stronger particularly at lower frequencies.[138] Subsequent surveys and studies have indicated that the noise of the F-35 was not perceptibly different from the F-16 and F/A-18E/F, though the greater low-frequency noise was noticeable for some observers.[139][140][141]

Cockpit

 
F-35 cockpit simulator

The glass cockpit was designed to give the pilot good situational awareness. The main display is a 20- by 8-inch (50 by 20 cm) panoramic touchscreen, which shows flight instruments, stores management, CNI information, and integrated caution and warnings; the pilot can customize the arrangement of the information. Below the main display is a smaller stand-by display.[142] The cockpit has a speech-recognition system developed by Adacel.[143] The F-35 does not have a head-up display; instead, flight and combat information is displayed on the visor of the pilot's helmet in a helmet-mounted display system (HMDS).[144] The one-piece tinted canopy is hinged at the front and has an internal frame for structural strength. The Martin-Baker US16E ejection seat is launched by a twin-catapult system housed on side rails.[145] There is a right-hand side stick and throttle hands-on throttle-and-stick system. For life support, an onboard oxygen-generation system (OBOGS) is fitted and powered by the Integrated Power Package (IPP), with an auxiliary oxygen bottle and backup oxygen system for emergencies.[146]

 
The F-35's helmet-mounted display system

The Vision Systems International[N 12] helmet display is a key piece of the F-35's human-machine interface. Instead of the head-up display mounted atop the dashboard of earlier fighters, the HMDS puts flight and combat information on the helmet visor, allowing the pilot to see it no matter which way they are facing.[147] Infrared and night vision imagery from the Distributed Aperture System can be displayed directly on the HMDS and enables the pilot to "see through" the aircraft. The HMDS allows an F-35 pilot to fire missiles at targets even when the nose of the aircraft is pointing elsewhere by cuing missile seekers at high angles off-boresight.[148][149] Each helmet costs $400,000.[150] The HMDS weighs more than traditional helmets, and there is concern that it can endanger lightweight pilots during ejection.[151]

Due to the HMDS's vibration, jitter, night-vision and sensor display problems during development, Lockheed Martin and Elbit issued a draft specification in 2011 for an alternative HMDS based on the AN/AVS-9 night vision goggles as backup, with BAE Systems chosen later that year.[152][153] A cockpit redesign would be needed to adopt an alternative HMDS.[154][155] Following progress on the baseline helmet, development on the alternative HMDS was halted in October 2013.[156][157] In 2016, the Gen 3 helmet with improved night vision camera, new liquid crystal displays, automated alignment and software enhancements was introduced with LRIP lot 7.[156]

Armament

To preserve its stealth shaping, the F-35 has two internal weapons bays with four weapons stations. The two outboard weapon stations each can carry ordnance up to 2,500 lb (1,100 kg), or 1,500 lb (680 kg) for the F-35B, while the two inboard stations carry air-to-air missiles. Air-to-surface weapons for the outboard station include the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), Paveway series of bombs, Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW), and cluster munitions (Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser). The station can also carry multiple smaller munitions such as the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs (SDB), GBU-53/B SDB II, and SPEAR 3 anti-tank missiles; up to four SDBs can be carried per station for the F-35A and F-35C, and three for the F-35B.[158][159][160] The inboard station can carry the AIM-120 AMRAAM. Two compartments behind the weapons bays contain flares, chaff, and towed decoys.[161]

 
F-35A with all weapon bay doors open

The aircraft can use six external weapons stations for missions that do not require stealth.[162] The wingtip pylons each can carry an AIM-9X or AIM-132 ASRAAM and are canted outwards to reduce their radar cross-section.[163][164] Additionally, each wing has a 5,000 lb (2,300 kg) inboard station and a 2,500 lb (1,100 kg) middle station, or 1,500 lb (680 kg) for F-35B. The external wing stations can carry large air-to-surface weapons that would not fit inside the weapons bays such as the AGM-158 Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) cruise missile. An air-to-air missile load of eight AIM-120s and two AIM-9s is possible using internal and external weapons stations; a configuration of six 2,000 lb (910 kg) bombs, two AIM-120s and two AIM-9s can also be arranged.[148][165][166] The F-35A is armed with a 25 mm GAU-22/A rotary cannon mounted internally near the left wing root with 182 rounds carried; the gun is more effective against ground targets than the 20 mm cannon carried by other USAF fighters. The F-35B and F-35C have no internal gun and instead can use a Terma A/S multi-mission pod (MMP) carrying the GAU-22/A and 220 rounds; the pod is mounted on the centerline of the aircraft and shaped to reduce its radar cross-section.[167][168] In lieu of the gun, the pod can also be used for different equipment and purposes, such as electronic warfare, aerial reconnaissance, or rear-facing tactical radar.[169][170]

Lockheed Martin is developing a weapon rack called Sidekick that would enable the internal outboard station to carry two AIM-120s, thus increasing the internal air-to-air payload to six missiles, currently offered for Block 4.[171][172] Block 4 will also have a rearranged hydraulic line and bracket to allow the F-35B to carry four SDBs per internal outboard station; integration of the MBDA Meteor is also planned.[173][174] The USAF and USN are planning to integrate the AGM-88G AARGM-ER internally in the F-35A and F-35C.[175] Norway and Australia are funding an adaptation of the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) for the F-35; designated Joint Strike Missile (JSM), two missiles can be carried internally with an additional four externally.[176] Nuclear weapons delivery via internal carriage of the B61 nuclear bomb is planned for Block 4B in 2024.[177] Both hypersonic missiles and direct energy weapons such as solid-state laser are currently being considered as future upgrades.[N 13][181] Lockheed Martin is studying integrating a fiber laser that uses spectral beam combining multiple individual laser modules into a single high-power beam, which can be scaled to various levels.[182]

The USAF plans for the F-35A to take up the close air support (CAS) mission in contested environments; amid criticism that it is not as well suited as a dedicated attack platform, USAF chief of staff Mark Welsh placed a focus on weapons for CAS sorties, including guided rockets, fragmentation rockets that shatter into individual projectiles before impact, and more compact ammunition for higher capacity gun pods.[183] Fragmentary rocket warheads create greater effects than cannon shells as each rocket creates a "thousand-round burst", delivering more projectiles than a strafing run.[184]

Engine

The single-engine aircraft is powered by the Pratt & Whitney F135 low-bypass augmented turbofan with rated thrust of 43,000 lbf (191 kN). Derived from the Pratt & Whitney F119 used by the F-22, the F135 has a larger fan and higher bypass ratio to increase subsonic thrust and fuel efficiency, and unlike the F119, is not optimized for supercruise.[185] The engine contributes to the F-35's stealth by having a low-observable augmenter, or afterburner, that incorporates fuel injectors into thick curved vanes; these vanes are covered by ceramic radar-absorbent materials and mask the turbine. The stealthy augmenter had problems with pressure pulsations, or "screech", at low altitude and high speed early in its development.[186] The low-observable axisymmetric nozzle consists of 15 partially overlapping flaps that create a sawtooth pattern at the trailing edge, which reduces radar signature and creates shed vortices that reduce the infrared signature of the exhaust plume.[187] Due to the engine's large dimensions, the U.S. Navy had to modify its underway replenishment system to facilitate at-sea logistics support.[188] The F-35's Integrated Power Package (IPP) performs power and thermal management and integrates environment control, auxiliary power unit, engine starting, and other functions into a single system.[189]

 
Illustration of the STOVL swivel nozzle, lift fan, and roll-control posts

The F135-PW-600 variant for the F-35B incorporates the Shaft-Driven Lift Fan (SDLF) to allow STOVL operations. Designed by Lockheed Martin and developed by Rolls-Royce, the SDLF, also known as the Rolls-Royce LiftSystem, consists of the lift fan, drive shaft, two roll posts, and a "three-bearing swivel module" (3BSM). The thrust vectoring 3BSM nozzle allows the main engine exhaust to be deflected downward at the tail of the aircraft and is moved by a "fueldraulic" actuator that uses pressurized fuel as the working fluid.[190][191][192] Unlike the Harrier's Pegasus engine that entirely uses direct engine thrust for lift, the F-35B's system augments the swivel nozzle's thrust with the lift fan; the fan is powered by the low-pressure turbine through a drive shaft when engaged with a clutch and placed near the front of the aircraft to provide a counterbalancing thrust.[193][194][195] Roll control during slow flight is achieved by diverting unheated engine bypass air through wing-mounted thrust nozzles called roll posts.[196][197]

An alternative engine, the General Electric/Rolls-Royce F136, was being developed in the 2000s; originally, F-35 engines from Lot 6 onward were competitively tendered. Using technology from the General Electric YF120, the F136 was claimed to have a greater temperature margin than the F135 due to the higher mass flow design making full use of the inlet.[34][198] The F136 was canceled in December 2011 due to lack of funding.[199][200]

The F-35 is expected to receive propulsion upgrades over its lifecycle to adapt to emerging threats and enable additional capabilities. In 2016, the Adaptive Engine Transition Program (AETP) was launched to develop and test adaptive cycle engines, with one major potential application being the re-engining of the F-35; in 2018, both GE and P&W were awarded contracts to develop 45,000 lbf (200 kN) thrust class demonstrators, with the designations XA100 and XA101 respectively.[69] In addition to potential re-engining, P&W also plans to improve the baseline F135; in 2017, P&W announced the F135 Growth Option 1.0 and 2.0; Growth Option 1.0 was a drop-in power module upgrade that offered 6–10% thrust improvement and 5–6% fuel burn reduction, while Growth Option 2.0 would be the adaptive cycle XA101.[201][202] In 2020, P&W shifted its F135 upgrade plan from the Growth Options to a series of Engine Enhancement Packages along with some additional capabilities, while the XA101 became a separate clean-sheet design. The capability packages are planned to be incorporated in two-year increments starting in the mid-2020s.[203]

In December 2020, GE's XA100 (A100) completed its first successful run. GE's detailed design was completed in February 2019, and initial testing at GE's high-altitude test facility in Evendale, Ohio was concluded in May 2021.[204][205][206] GE expects that the A100 can enter service with the F-35A and C in 2027 at the earliest.[207]

Maintenance and logistics

The F-35 is designed to require less maintenance than prior stealth aircraft. Some 95% of all field-replaceable parts are "one deep"—that is, nothing else need be removed to reach the desired part; for instance, the ejection seat can be replaced without removing the canopy. The F-35 has a fibermat radar-absorbent material (RAM) baked into the skin, which is more durable, easier to work with, and faster to cure than older RAM coatings; similar coatings are being considered for application on older stealth aircraft such as the F-22.[128][208][209] Skin corrosion on the F-22 led the F-35 using a less galvanic corrosion-inducing skin gap filler, fewer gaps in the airframe skin needing filler, and better drainage.[210] The flight control system uses electro-hydrostatic actuators rather than traditional hydraulic systems; these controls can be powered by lithium-ion batteries in case of emergency.[211][212] Commonality between variants led to the USMC's first aircraft maintenance Field Training Detachment, which applied USAF lessons to their F-35 operations.[213]

The F-35 was initially supported by a computerized maintenance management system named Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS). In concept, any F-35 can be serviced at any maintenance facility and all parts can be globally tracked and shared as needed.[214] Due to numerous problems, such as unreliable diagnoses, excessive connectivity requirements, and security vulnerabilities, ALIS is being replaced by the cloud-based Operational Data Integrated Network (ODIN).[215][216][217] From September 2020, ODIN base kits (OBKs) were running ALIS software, as well as ODIN software, first at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma, Arizona, then at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, in support of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 125 on 16 July 2021, and then Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, in support of the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron (TES) on 6 August 2021. In 2022, over a dozen more OBK sites will replace the ALIS's Standard Operating Unit unclassified (SOU-U) servers.[218] OBK performance is double that of ALIS.[219][218][220]

Operational history

Main article: Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II procurement

Testing

The first F-35A, AA-1, conducted its engine run in September 2006 and first flew on 15 December 2006.[221] Unlike all subsequent aircraft, AA-1 did not have the weight optimization from SWAT; consequently, it mainly tested subsystems common to subsequent aircraft, such as the propulsion, electrical system, and cockpit displays. This aircraft was retired from flight testing in December 2009 and was used for live-fire testing at NAS China Lake.[222]

 
The first delivered USAF F-35 on its delivery flight to Eglin AFB, July 2011

The first F-35B, BF-1, flew on 11 June 2008, while the first weight-optimized F-35A and F-35C, AF-1 and CF-1, flew on 14 November 2009 and 6 June 2010 respectively. The F-35B's first hover was on 17 March 2010, followed by its first vertical landing the next day.[223] The F-35 Integrated Test Force (ITF) consisted of 18 aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base and Naval Air Station Patuxent River. Nine aircraft at Edwards, five F-35As, three F-35Bs, and one F-35C, performed flight sciences testing such as F-35A envelope expansion, flight loads, stores separation, as well as mission systems testing. The other nine aircraft at Patuxent River, five F-35Bs and four F-35Cs, were responsible for F-35B and C envelope expansion and STOVL and CV suitability testing. Additional carrier suitability testing was conducted at Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division at Lakehurst, New Jersey. Two non-flying aircraft of each variant were used to test static loads and fatigue.[224] For testing avionics and mission systems, a modified Boeing 737-300 with a duplication of the cockpit, the Lockheed Martin CATBird has been used.[172] Field testing of the F-35's sensors were conducted during Exercise Northern Edge 2009 and 2011, serving as significant risk-reduction steps.[225][226]

Flight tests revealed several serious deficiencies that required costly redesigns, caused delays, and resulted in several fleet-wide groundings. In 2011, the F-35C failed to catch the arresting wire in all eight landing tests; a redesigned tail hook was delivered two years later.[227][228] By June 2009, many of the initial flight test targets had been accomplished but the program was behind schedule.[229] Software and mission systems were among the biggest sources of delays for the program, with sensor fusion proving especially challenging.[111] In fatigue testing, the F-35B suffered several premature cracks, requiring a redesign of the structure.[230] A third non-flying F-35B is currently planned to test the redesigned structure. The F-35B and C also had problems with the horizontal tails suffering heat damage from prolonged afterburner use.[N 14][233][234] Early flight control laws had problems with "wing drop"[N 15] and also made the airplane sluggish, with high angles-of-attack tests in 2015 against an F-16 showing a lack of energy.[235][236]

 
A USMC F-35B launches off the ski-jump of HMS Queen Elizabeth, 2018

At-sea testing of the F-35B was first conducted aboard USS Wasp. In October 2011, two F-35Bs conducted three weeks of initial sea trials, called Development Test I.[237] The second F-35B sea trials, Development Test II, began in August 2013, with tests including nighttime operations; two aircraft completed 19 nighttime vertical landings using DAS imagery.[238][239] The first operational testing involving six F-35Bs was done on the Wasp in May 2015. The final Development Test III on USS America involving operations in high sea states was completed in late 2016.[240] A Royal Navy F-35 conducted the first "rolling" landing on board HMS Queen Elizabeth in October 2018.[241]

USN F-35C makes the aircraft's first arrested landing aboard the carrier USS Nimitz off the coast of San Diego

After the redesigned tail hook arrived, the F-35C's carrier-based Development Test I began in November 2014 aboard USS Nimitz and focused on basic day carrier operations and establishing launch and recovery handling procedures.[242] Development Test II, which focused on night operations, weapons loading, and full power launches, took place in October 2015. The final Development Test III was completed in August 2016, and included tests of asymmetric loads and certifying systems for landing qualifications and interoperability.[243] Operational test of the F-35C began in 2018.[244]

The F-35's reliability and availability have fallen short of requirements, especially in the early years of testing. The ALIS maintenance and logistics system was plagued by excessive connectivity requirements and faulty diagnoses. In late 2017, the GAO reported the time needed to repair an F-35 part averaged 172 days, which was "twice the program's objective," and that shortage of spare parts was degrading readiness.[245] In 2019, while individual F-35 units have achieved mission-capable rates of over the target of 80% for short periods during deployed operations, fleet-wide rates remained below target. The fleet availability goal of 65% was also not met, although the trend shows improvement. Gun accuracy of the F-35A remains unacceptable.[233][246] As of 2020, the number of the program's most serious issues have been decreased by half.[247]

Operational test and evaluation (OT&E) with Block 3F, the final configuration for SDD, began in December 2018.[248]

United States

Training

 
A pair of F-35Cs and F/A-18E/Fs fly over NAS Fallon, home of TOPGUN, in September 2015.

The F-35A and F-35B were cleared for basic flight training in early 2012, although there were concerns over safety and performance due to lack of system maturity at the time.[249][250][251] During the Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) phase, the three U.S. military services jointly developed tactics and procedures using flight simulators, testing effectiveness, discovering problems and refining design. On 10 September 2012, the USAF began an operational utility evaluation (OUE) of the F-35A, including logistical support, maintenance, personnel training, and pilot execution.[252][253]

The USMC F-35B Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) was initially based at Eglin AFB in 2012 alongside USAF F-35A training units, before moving to MCAS Beaufort in 2014 while another FRS was stood up at MCAS Miramar in 2020.[254][255] The USAF F-35A basic course is held at Eglin AFB and Luke AFB; in January 2013, training began at Eglin with capacity for 100 pilots and 2,100 maintainers at once.[256] Additionally, the 6th Weapons Squadron of the USAF Weapons School was activated at Nellis AFB in June 2017 for F-35A weapons instructor curriculum while the 65th Aggressor Squadron was reactivated with the F-35A in June 2022 to expand training against adversary stealth aircraft tactics.[257] The USN stood up its F-35C FRS in 2012 with VFA-101 at Eglin AFB, but operations would later be transferred and consolidated under VFA-125 at NAS Lemoore in 2019.[258] The F-35C was introduced to the Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor course, or TOPGUN, in 2020 and the additional capabilities of the aircraft greatly revamped the course syllabus.[259]

U.S. Marine Corps

On 16 November 2012, the USMC received the first F-35B of VMFA-121 at MCAS Yuma.[260] The USMC declared Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for the F-35B in the Block 2B configuration on 31 July 2015 after operational trials, with some limitations in night operations, mission systems, and weapons carriage.[1][261] USMC F-35Bs participated in their first Red Flag exercise in July 2016 with 67 sorties conducted.[262] The first F-35B deployment occurred in 2017 at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan; combat employment began in July 2018 from the amphibious assault ship USS Essex, with the first combat strike on 27 September 2018 against a Taliban target in Afghanistan.[263]

 
On 3 October 2021, USMC F-35Bs performed the aircraft's first landings and take-offs from the JS Izumo.

In addition to deploying F-35Bs on amphibious assault ships, the USMC plans to disperse the aircraft among austere forward-deployed bases with shelter and concealment to enhance survivability while remaining close to a battlespace. Known as distributed STOVL operations (DSO), F-35Bs would operate from temporary bases in allied territory within hostile missile engagement zones and displace inside the enemy's 24- to 48-hour targeting cycle; this strategy allows F-35Bs to rapidly respond to operational needs, with mobile forward arming and refueling points (M-FARPs) accommodating KC-130 and MV-22 Osprey aircraft to rearm and refuel the jets, as well as littoral areas for sea links of mobile distribution sites. For higher echelons of maintenance, F-35Bs would return from M-FARPs to rear-area friendly bases or ships. Helicopter-portable metal planking is needed to protect unprepared roads from the F-35B's exhaust; the USMC are studying lighter heat-resistant options.[264] These operations have become part of the larger USMC Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO) concept.[265]

The first USMC F-35C squadron, VMFA-314, achieved Full Operational Capability in July 2021 and was first deployed on board the USS Abraham Lincoln as a part of Carrier Air Wing 9 in January 2022.[266]

U.S. Air Force

USAF F-35A in the Block 3i configuration achieved IOC with the USAF's 34th Fighter Squadron at Hill Air Force Base, Utah on 2 August 2016.[2] F-35As conducted their first Red Flag exercise in 2017; system maturity had improved and the aircraft scored a kill ratio of 15:1 against an F-16 aggressor squadron in a high-threat environment.[267] The first USAF F-35A deployment occurred on 15 April 2019 to Al Dhafra Air Base, UAE.[268] On 27 April 2019, USAF F-35As were first used in combat in an airstrike on an Islamic State tunnel network in northern Iraq.[269]

For European basing, RAF Lakenheath in the UK was chosen as the first installation to station two F-35A squadrons, with 48 aircraft adding to the 48th Fighter Wing's existing F-15C and F-15E squadrons. The first aircraft of the 495th Fighter Squadron arrived in 15 December 2021.[270][271]

The F-35's operating cost is higher than some older USAF tactical aircraft. In fiscal year 2018, the F-35A's cost per flight hour (CPFH) was $44,000, a number that was reduced to $35,000 in 2019.[272] For comparison, in 2015 the CPFH of the A-10 was $17,716; the F-15C, $41,921; and the F-16C, $22,514.[273] Lockheed Martin hopes to reduce it to $25,000 by 2025 through performance-based logistics and other measures.[274]

U.S. Navy

The USN achieved operational status with the F-35C in Block 3F on 28 February 2019.[3] On 2 August 2021, the F-35C of VFA-147, as well as the CMV-22 Osprey, embarked on their maiden deployments as part of Carrier Air Wing 2 on board the USS Carl Vinson.[275]

United Kingdom

 
F-35B ZM148 of No. 617 Squadron landing on HMS Queen Elizabeth, 2019

The United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and Royal Navy both operate the F-35B, known simply as the Lightning in British service;[276] it has replaced the Harrier GR9, which was retired in 2010, and Tornado GR4, which was retired in 2019. The F-35 is to be Britain's primary strike aircraft for the next three decades. One of the Royal Navy's requirements for the F-35B was a Shipborne Rolling and Vertical Landing (SRVL) mode to increase maximum landing weight by using wing lift during landing.[277][278] When operating on the aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, British F-35Bs use ski-jumps. The Italian Navy use the same process. British F-35Bs are not intended to use the Brimstone 2 missile.[279] In July 2013, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton announced that No. 617 (The Dambusters) Squadron would be the RAF's first operational F-35 squadron.[280][281] The second operational squadron will be the Fleet Air Arm's 809 Naval Air Squadron which will stand up in April 2023 or later.[282][283]

No. 17 (Reserve) Test and Evaluation Squadron (TES) stood-up on 12 April 2013 as the Operational Evaluation Unit for the Lightning, becoming the first British squadron to operate the type.[284] By June 2013, the RAF had received three F-35s of the 48 on order, initially based at Eglin Air Force Base.[285] In June 2015, the F-35B undertook its first launch from a ski-jump at NAS Patuxent River.[286] On 5 July 2017, it was announced the second UK-based RAF squadron would be No. 207 Squadron,[287] which reformed on 1 August 2019 as the Lightning Operational Conversion Unit.[288] No. 617 Squadron reformed on 18 April 2018 during a ceremony in Washington, D.C., becoming the first RAF front-line squadron to operate the type;[289] receiving its first four F-35Bs on 6 June, flying from MCAS Beaufort to RAF Marham.[290] On 10 January 2019, No. 617 Squadron and its F-35s were declared combat ready.[291]

In April 2019, No. 617 Squadron deployed to RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus, the type's first overseas deployment.[292] On 25 June 2019, the first combat use of an RAF F-35B was reportedly undertaken as armed reconnaissance flights searching for Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria.[293] In October 2019, the Dambusters and No. 17 TES F-35s were embarked on HMS Queen Elizabeth for the first time.[294] No. 617 Squadron departed RAF Marham on 22 January 2020 for their first Exercise Red Flag with the Lightning.[295] As of November 2022, 26 F-35Bs were based in the United Kingdom (with 617 and 207 Squadrons) and a further three were permanently based in the United States (with 17 Squadron) for testing and evaluation purposes.[296]

Australia

 
An RAAF F-35A at the 2019 Australian International Airshow in Avalon, Victoria

Australia's first F-35, designated A35-001, was manufactured in 2014, with flight training provided through international Pilot Training Centre (PTC) at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona.[297] The first two F-35s were unveiled to the Australian public on 3 March 2017 at the Avalon Airshow.[298] By 2021, the Royal Australian Air Force had accepted 26 F-35As, with nine in the US and 17 operating at No 3 Squadron and No 2 Operational Conversion Unit at RAAF Base Williamtown.[297] With 41 trained RAAF pilots and 225 trained technicians for maintenance, the fleet was declared ready to deploy on operations.[299] It is expected that Australia will receive all 72 F-35s by 2023.[298]

Israel

 
The F-35I Adir (accompanied by a 253 Squadron F-16I Sufa) on its debut flight in Israel, December 2016

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) declared the F-35 operationally capable on 6 December 2017.[300] According to Kuwaiti newspaper Al Jarida, in July 2018, a test mission of at least three IAF F-35s flew to Iran's capital Tehran and back to Tel Aviv. While publicly unconfirmed, regional leaders acted on the report; Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei reportedly fired the air force chief and commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps over the mission.[301][302]

On 22 May 2018, IAF chief Amikam Norkin said that the service had employed their F-35Is in two attacks on two battle fronts, marking the first combat operation of an F-35 by any country.[12][303] Norkin said it had been flown "all over the Middle East", and showed photos of an F-35I flying over Beirut in daylight.[304] In July 2019, Israel expanded its strikes against Iranian missile shipments; IAF F-35Is allegedly struck Iranian targets in Iraq twice.[305]

In November 2020, the IAF announced the delivery of a unique F-35I testbed aircraft among a delivery of four aircraft received in August, to be used to test and integrate Israeli-produced weapons and electronic systems on F-35s received later. This is the only example of a testbed F-35 delivered to a non-US air force.[306][307]

On 11 May 2021, eight IAF F-35Is took part in an attack on 150 targets in Hamas' rocket array, including 50–70 launch pits in the northern Gaza Strip, as part of Operation Guardian of the Walls.[308]

On 6 March 2022, the IDF stated that on 15 March 2021, F-35Is shot down two Iranian drones carrying weapons to the Gaza Strip.[309] This was the first operational shoot down and interception carried out by the F-35.

Italy

Italy's F-35As were declared to have reached initial operational capability (IOC) on 30 November 2018. At the time Italy had taken delivery of 10 F-35As and one F-35B, with 2 F-35As and the one F-35B being stationed in the U.S. for training, the remaining 8 F-35As were stationed in Amendola.[310]

Japan

Japan's F-35As were declared to have reached initial operational capability (IOC) on 29 March 2019. At the time Japan had taken delivery of 10 F-35As stationed in Misawa Air Base. Japan plans to eventually acquire a total of 147 F-35s, which will include 42 F-35Bs. It plans to use the latter variant to equip Japan's Izumo-class multi-purpose destroyers.[311][312]

Norway

 
First Norwegian F-35 Lightning II at Luke Air Force Base

On 6 November 2019 Norway declared initial operational capability (IOC) for its fleet of 15 F-35As out of a planned 52 F-35As.[313] On 6 January 2022 Norway's F-35As replaced its F-16s for the NATO quick reaction alert mission in the high north.[314]

Netherlands

On 27 December 2021 the Netherlands declared initial operational capability (IOC) for its fleet of 24 F-35As that it has received to date from its order for 46 F-35As.[315] In 2022, the Netherlands announced they will order an additional 6 F-35s, totaling 52 aircraft ordered.[316]

Variants

 
The three main variants: CTOL for conventional take-off and landing, STOVL for short take-off and vertical-landing, and CV for carrier variant
 
USAF F-35A in flight, 2013
Video of a USMC F-35B conducting the first vertical landing aboard USS Wasp on 3 October 2011
 
F-35 variants flying in formation. The F-35C (left) has a larger wing than other variants, while the F-35B (center) has a shorter nozzle and no tailhook.

The F-35 was designed with three initial variants – the F-35A, a CTOL land-based version; the F-35B, a STOVL version capable of use either on land or on aircraft carriers; and the F-35C, a CATOBAR carrier-based version. Since then, there has been work on the design of nationally specific versions for Israel and Canada.

F-35A

The F-35A is the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant intended for the USAF and other air forces. It is the smallest, lightest version and capable of 9 g, the highest of all variants.

Although the F-35A currently conducts aerial refueling via boom and receptacle method, the aircraft can be modified for probe-and-drogue refueling if needed by the customer.[317][318] A drag chute pod can be installed on the F-35A, with the Royal Norwegian Air Force being the first operator to adopt it.[319]

F-35B

See also: Joint Combat Aircraft

The F-35B is the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the aircraft. Similar in size to the A variant, the B sacrifices about a third of the A variant's fuel volume to accommodate the SDLF.[320][321] This variant is limited to 7 g. Unlike other variants, the F-35B has no landing hook. The "STOVL/HOOK" control instead engages conversion between normal and vertical flight.[322][323] The F-35B is capable of Mach 1.6 (1,976 km/h) and can perform vertical and/or short take-off and landing (V/STOL).[196]

F-35C

The F-35C variant is designed for catapult-assisted take-off but arrested recovery operations from aircraft carriers. Compared to the F-35A, the F-35C features larger wings with foldable wingtip sections, larger control surfaces for improved low-speed control, stronger landing gear for the stresses of carrier arrested landings, a twin-wheel nose gear, and a stronger tailhook for use with carrier arrestor cables.[228] The larger wing area allows for decreased landing speed while increasing both range and payload. The F-35C is limited to 7.5 g.[324]

F-35I "Adir"

Main article: Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Israeli procurement

The F-35I Adir (Hebrew: אדיר, meaning "Awesome",[325] or "Mighty One"[326]) is an F-35A with unique Israeli modifications. The US initially refused to allow such changes before permitting Israel to integrate its own electronic warfare systems, including sensors and countermeasures. The main computer has a plug-and-play function for add-on systems; proposals include an external jamming pod, and new Israeli air-to-air missiles and guided bombs in the internal weapon bays.[327][328] A senior IAF official said that the F-35's stealth may be partly overcome within 10 years despite a 30 to 40-year service life, thus Israel's insistence on using their own electronic warfare systems.[329] Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has considered a two-seat F-35 concept; an IAI executive noted: "There is a known demand for two seats not only from Israel but from other air forces".[330] IAI plans to produce conformal fuel tanks.[331]

Proposed variants

CF-35

Main article: Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Canadian procurement

The Canadian CF-35 was a proposed variant that would differ from the F-35A through the addition of a drogue parachute and the potential inclusion of an F-35B/C-style refueling probe.[319][332] In 2012, it was revealed that the CF-35 would employ the same boom refueling system as the F-35A.[333] One alternative proposal would have been the adoption of the F-35C for its probe refueling and lower landing speed; however, the Parliamentary Budget Officer's report cited the F-35C's limited performance and payload as being too high a price to pay.[334] Following the 2015 Federal Election the Liberal Party, whose campaign had included a pledge to cancel the F-35 procurement,[335] formed a new government and commenced an open competition to replace the existing CF-18 Hornet.[336] The CF-35 variant was deemed too expensive to develop, and was never considered. The Canadian government decided to not pursue any other modifications in the Future Fighter Capability Project, and instead focused on the potential procurement of the existing F-35A variant.[citation needed][337] It has been speculated, however, that the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) would still include the drag chute pod as seen on RNoAF F-35As for shortened landing distances.[338]

On 28 March 2022, the Canadian Government began negotiations with Lockheed Martin for 88 F-35As[339] to replace the aging fleet of CF-18 fighters starting in 2025.[340] The aircraft are reported to cost up to CA$19bn total with a life-cycle cost estimated at CA$77bn over the course of the F-35 program.[341][342] On 9 January 2023, Canada formally confirmed the purchase of 88 aircraft with an initial delivery of 16 aircraft to the RCAF in 2026 and the final batch in 2032.[343][344] The additional characteristics confirmed for the CF-35 included the drag chute pod for landings at short/icey arctic runways, as well as the 'sidekick' system, which allows the CF-35 to carry up to 6 x AIM-120D missiles internally (instead of the typical internal capacity of 4 x AIM-120 missiles on other variants).[345]

New export variant

In December 2021, it was reported that Lockheed Martin was developing a new variant for an unspecified foreign customer. The Department of Defense released US$49 million in funding for this work.[346]

"F-35D" (notional concept)

The "F-35D" was used as a notional 2035 aircraft to illustrate a hypothetical scenario as part of a 2015 USAF study called the Future Operating Concept.[347][348]

Operators

Main articles: Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II operators and Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II procurement
 
One of the RAAF's first two F-35As in December 2014
 
A Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-35A in flight
 
First four RAF F-35Bs on a delivery flight to RAF Marham, June 2018
 
USN F-35C performs a touch-and-go landing aboard USS Abraham Lincoln
  Australia
  Belgium
  Canada
  Denmark
  Finland
  Germany
  Israel
  Italy
  • Italian Air Force – 12 F-35As and 1 F-35B delivered as of 2020[366] with Italy planning to order 60 F-35As and 15 F-35Bs for the Italian Air Force.[367][368]
  • Italian Navy – 2 had been delivered as of October 2020 with 15 F-35Bs planned for the Italian Navy.[367][368] In 2022 Italy ordered 14 more F-35As and 4 F-35Bs[369]
  Japan
  Netherlands
  Norway
  Poland
  • Polish Air Force – 32 F-35As on order.[379] Plans for two more squadrons consisting of 16 jets each, for a total of 32 additional F-35s.[380]
  South Korea
  Singapore
  Switzerland
  United Kingdom
  • Royal Air Force and Royal Navy (owned by the RAF but jointly operated) – 30 F-35Bs received[392][393] with 26 in the UK after the loss of one aircraft in November 2021;[296][394][395][396] the other three are in the US where they are used for testing and training.[397] 42 (24 FOC fighters and 18 training aircraft) to be fast-tracked by 2023;[398][399] A total of 48 ordered as of 2021; a total of 138 were originally planned, the expectation in 2021 was to eventually reach around 60 or 80.[400] In 2022, it was announced that the UK would acquire 74 F-35s, with a decision on whether or not to go beyond that number, including the possibility of reviving the original plan of 138 aircraft, to be made in the mid-2020s.[401]
  United States

Order and approval cancellations

  Turkey
  • Turkish Air Force – 30 were ordered,[406] of up to 100 total planned.[407][408] Future purchases have been banned by the U.S. with contracts canceled by early 2020, following Turkey's decision to buy the S-400 missile system from Russia.[409] Six of Turkey's 30 ordered F-35As were completed as of 2019 (they are still kept in a hangar in the United States as of 2023[410][411] and so far haven't been transferred to the USAF, despite a modification in the 2020 Fiscal Year defense budget by the U.S. Congress which gives authority to do so if necessary),[412][413] and two more were at the assembly line in 2020.[412][413] The first four F-35As were delivered to Luke Air Force Base in 2018[414] and 2019[415] for the training of Turkish pilots.[416][417] On July 20, 2020, the U.S. government had formally approved the seizure of eight F-35As originally bound for Turkey and their transfer to the USAF, together with a contract to modify them to USAF specifications.[418] The U.S. has not refunded the $1.4 billion payment made by Turkey for purchasing the F-35A fighters as of January 2023.[410][411]
  United Arab Emirates
  • United Arab Emirates Air Force - Up to 50 F-35As planned.[419] But on 27 January 2021, the Biden administration temporarily suspended the F-35 sales to the UAE.[420] After pausing the bill to review the sale, the Biden administration confirmed to move forward with the deal on 13 April 2021.[421] In December 2021 UAE withdrew from purchasing F-35s as they did not agree to the additional terms of the transaction from the US.[422]

Accidents and notable incidents

On 23 June 2014, an F-35A's engine caught fire at Eglin AFB. The pilot escaped unharmed, while the aircraft sustained an estimated US$50 million in damage.[423][424] The accident caused all flights to be halted on 3 July.[425] The fleet returned to flight on 15 July with flight envelope restrictions.[426] In June 2015, the USAF Air Education and Training Command (AETC) issued its official report, which blamed the failure on the third stage rotor of the engine's fan module, pieces of which cut through the fan case and upper fuselage. Pratt & Whitney applied an extended "rub-in" to increase the gap between the second stator and the third rotor integral arm seal, as well as design alterations to pre-trench the stator by early 2016.[423]

On 28 September 2018, the first crash occurred involving a USMC F-35B near Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina; the pilot ejected safely.[427][428] The crash was attributed to a faulty fuel tube; all F-35s were grounded on 11 October pending a fleet-wide inspection of the tubes.[429] The next day, most USAF and USN F-35s returned to flight status following the inspection.[430]

On 9 April 2019, a JASDF F-35A attached to Misawa Air Base disappeared from radar about 84 miles (135 km) east of the Aomori Prefecture during a training mission over the Pacific Ocean. The pilot, Major Akinori Hosomi, had radioed his intention to abort the drill before disappearing.[431][432] The US and Japanese navies searched for the missing aircraft and pilot, finding debris on the water that confirmed its crash; Hosomi's remains were recovered in June.[433][434][435] In response, Japan grounded its 12 F-35As.[436][432] There was speculation that China or Russia might attempt to salvage it; the Japanese Defense Ministry announced there had been no "reported activities" from either country.[432] The F-35 reportedly did not send a distress signal nor did the pilot attempt any recovery maneuvers as it descended at a rapid rate.[431][437] The accident report attributed the cause to the pilot's spatial disorientation.[438]

On 19 May 2020, a USAF F-35A from the 58th Fighter Squadron crashed while landing at Eglin AFB. The pilot ejected and was in stable condition.[435] The accident was attributed to a combination of pilot error induced by fatigue, a design issue with the oxygen system and the aircraft's more complex nature being distracting, as well as a malfunctioning head-mounted display and an unresponsive flight control system.[439]

On 29 September 2020, a USMC F-35B crashed in Imperial County, California, after colliding with a Marine Corps KC-130 during air-to-air refuelling. The F-35B pilot was injured in the ejection, and the KC-130 crash-landed gear up in a field.[440]

On 12 March 2021, during a close air support weapons training night-time flight near Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, a round fired from the belly-mounted gunpod on a F-35B, a 25mm GAU/A gatling gun, detonated shortly after leaving the barrel of the gun. This specific round fired was a PGU-32/B SAPHEI-T (semi armor piercing high explosive incendiary-tracer), which is designed to detonate after the round has penetrated the target's armor, beginning a fuze delayed explosion and then spread the incendiary material. These rounds are also equipped with graze detection, meaning even with a slight grazing blow to a target they will explode and spread the incendiary substance. The mishap was classified as a Class C, meaning the damage incurred a cost of between $60,000-$600,000 to repair, and/or a nonfatal injury forcing lost time from work for the remainder of the working day that the injury occurred. The aircraft itself was grounded for maintenance for over three months, but the pilot was uninjured. The shrapnel from the round penetrated several parts of the aircraft, requiring their replacement.[441]

On 17 November 2021, a Royal Air Force F-35B crashed during routine operations in the Mediterranean. The pilot was safely recovered to HMS Queen Elizabeth.[394] Early reports suggested some of "the covers and engine blanks" had not been removed before takeoff.[442][443] The wreckage, including all security sensitive equipment, was largely recovered with the assistance of U.S. and Italian forces.[444]

On 4 January 2022, a South Korean Air Force F-35A made a belly landing after all systems failed except the flight controls and the engine. The pilot heard a series of bangs during low altitude flight, and various systems stopped working. The control tower suggested that the pilot eject, but he managed to land the plane without deploying the landing gear, walking away uninjured.[445][446]

On 24 January 2022, a USN F-35C with VFA-147 suffered a ramp strike while landing on the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) and was lost overboard in the South China Sea, injuring seven crew members. The pilot ejected safely and was recovered from the water. On 2 March 2022, the aircraft was recovered from a depth of approximately 12,400 ft (3,780 m) with the aid of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and DSCV Picasso, a deep-diving ship.[447]

On 19 October 2022, an F-35A crashed at the North end of the runway at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The pilot safely ejected and was unharmed. The cause of the crash is under investigation.[448]

On 15 December 2022, an F-35B crashed during a failed vertical landing at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth in Texas. The pilot ejected on the ground and was not seriously injured. The aircraft was undergoing production test flying by a government pilot and had not yet been delivered by the manufacturer to the US military.[449][450][451]

Specifications (F-35A)

 
F-35A three-view drawing
 
F-35B cutaway with lift fan

Data from Lockheed Martin: F-35 specifications,[452][453][454][455] Lockheed Martin: F-35 weaponry,[456] Lockheed Martin: F-35 Program Status,[99] F-35 Program brief,[148] FY2019 Select Acquisition Report (SAR),[324] Director of Operational Test & Evaluation[457]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 51.4 ft (15.7 m)
  • Wingspan: 35 ft (11 m)
  • Height: 14.4 ft (4.4 m)
  • Wing area: 460 sq ft (43 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 2.66
  • Empty weight: 29,300 lb (13,290 kg)
  • Gross weight: 49,540 lb (22,471 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 65,918 lb (29,900 kg) [458]
  • Fuel capacity: 18,250 lb (8,278 kg) internal
  • Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 afterburning turbofan, 28,000 lbf (125 kN) thrust dry, 43,000 lbf (191 kN) with afterburner

Performance

  • Maximum speed: Mach 1.6 at altitude
  • Range: 1,500 nmi (1,700 mi, 2,800 km)
  • Combat range: 669 nmi (770 mi, 1,239 km) on internal fuel
    • 760 nmi (870 mi; 1,410 km) interdiction mission on internal fuel, for internal air to air configuration[459]
  • Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,000 m)
  • g limits: +9.0
  • Wing loading: 107.7 lb/sq ft (526 kg/m2) at gross weight
  • Thrust/weight: 0.87 at gross weight (1.07 at loaded weight with 50% internal fuel)

Armament

Avionics

Differences between variants

F-35A
CTOL 		F-35B
STOVL 		F-35C
CV
Length 51.4 ft (15.7 m) 51.2 ft (15.6 m) 51.5 ft (15.7 m)
Wingspan 35 ft (10.7 m) 35 ft (10.7 m) 43 ft (13.1 m)
Height 14.4 ft (4.39 m) 14.3 ft (4.36 m) 14.7 ft (4.48 m)
Wing Area 460 sq ft (42.74 m2) 460 sq ft (42.74 m2) 668 sq ft (62.06 m2)
Empty weight 28,999 lb (13,154 kg) 32,472 lb (14,729 kg) 34,581 lb (15,686 kg)
Internal fuel 18,250 lb (8,278 kg) 13,500 lb (6,123 kg) 19,750 lb (8,958 kg)
Weapons payload 18,000 lb (8,160 kg) 15,000 lb (6,800 kg) 18,000 lb (8,160 kg)
Max takeoff weight 70,000 lb (31,800 kg) class 60,000 lb (27,200 kg) class 70,000 lb (31,800 kg) class
Range >1,200 nmi (2,200 km) >900 nmi (1,700 km) >1,200 nmi (2,200 km)
Combat radius on
internal fuel 		669 nmi (1,239 km) 505 nmi (935 km) 670 nmi (1,241 km)
Thrust/weight
 • full fuel:
 • 50% fuel:
0.87
1.07
0.90
1.04
0.75
0.91
g limit +9.0 +7.0 +7.5

Appearances in media

Main article: Aircraft in fiction § F-35 Lightning II

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

Notes

  1. ^ By 2014, the program was "US$163 billion over budget [and] seven years behind schedule".[9]
  2. ^ Lockheed acquired General Dynamics fighter division at Fort Worth in 1993 and merged with Martin Marietta in 1995 to form Lockheed Martin.
  3. ^ As these were concept demonstrator aircraft for risk reduction, they did not need to have the internal structure or most subsystems of the final aircraft as a weapon system.
  4. ^ The F-35 swivel nozzle design was pioneered by the Convair Model 200.[21]
  5. ^ The thrust vectoring nozzle would eventually be replaced by an axisymmetric low-observable nozzle to reduce weight.
  6. ^ FACO is also performed in Italy and Japan for some partner and export customers as part of the industrial benefits from international cooperation.
  7. ^ This first prototype lacked the weight optimization from SWAT.
  8. ^ Early F-35Bs have a service life as low as 2,100 hours before retrofits as seen on Lot 9 and later aircraft.
  9. ^ Turkey was the sole supplier of several F-35 parts, thus forcing the program to find replacement vendors.[83]
  10. ^ The F-35C has additional ailerons at the folding sections of the wings.
  11. ^ In 2014, Michael Gilmore, Director of Operational Test & Evaluation, stated that "software development, integration in the contractor labs, and delivery of mature capability to flight test continued to be behind schedule."[109]
  12. ^ Rockwell Collins and Elbit Systems formed the joint venture Vision Systems International (VSI), later renamed Collins Elbit Vision Systems (CEVS).
  13. ^ In 2002, solid-state laser weapons were reportedly being developed for the F-35.[178][179][180]
  14. ^ "Bubbling and blistering" of the horizontal tails and tail booms were observed once during flutter tests of the F-35B and C in late 2011; according to the program office, the problem has only occurred once despite numerous attempts to replicate it, and an improved spray-on coating has been implemented since as a mitigation measure. On 17 December 2019, the Pentagon program office closed the issue with no further actions planned, and instead is imposing a time limit on high-speed flight for the F-35B and C to reduce the risk of damaging the stealth coatings and antennas located on the back of the aircraft.[231][232]
  15. ^ Wing drop is an uncommanded roll that can occur during high-g transsonic maneuvering.
  16. ^ F-35B and F-35C have the cannon in an external pod with 220 rounds.

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March 16, 2023
lockheed, martin, lightning, redirects, here, other, uses, disambiguation, american, family, single, seat, single, engine, weather, stealth, multirole, combat, aircraft, that, intended, perform, both, superiority, strike, missions, also, able, provide, electro. F35 redirects here For other uses see F35 disambiguation The Lockheed Martin F 35 Lightning II is an American family of single seat single engine all weather stealth multirole combat aircraft that is intended to perform both air superiority and strike missions It is also able to provide electronic warfare and intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities Lockheed Martin is the prime F 35 contractor with principal partners Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems The aircraft has three main variants the conventional takeoff and landing CTOL F 35A the short take off and vertical landing STOVL F 35B and the carrier based CV CATOBAR F 35C F 35 Lightning IIA U S Air Force F 35A off the coast of FloridaRole Multirole fighterNational origin United StatesManufacturer Lockheed MartinFirst flight 15 December 2006 16 years ago 2006 12 15 F 35A Introduction F 35B 31 July 2015 USMC 1 F 35A 2 August 2016 USAF 2 F 35C 28 February 2019 USN 3 Status In productionPrimary users United States Air ForceUnited States Marine CorpsUnited States NavySee Operators section for othersProduced 2006 presentNumber built 890 as of March 2023 update 4 Developed from Lockheed Martin X 35The aircraft descends from the Lockheed Martin X 35 which in 2001 beat the Boeing X 32 to win the Joint Strike Fighter JSF program Its development is principally funded by the United States with additional funding from program partner countries from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization NATO and close U S allies including the United Kingdom Australia Canada Italy Norway Denmark the Netherlands and formerly Turkey 5 6 7 Several other countries have also ordered or are considering ordering the aircraft The program has drawn much scrutiny and criticism for its unprecedented size complexity ballooning costs and much delayed deliveries 8 N 1 The acquisition strategy of concurrent production of the aircraft while it was still in development and testing led to expensive design changes and retrofits 10 11 The F 35 first flew in 2006 and entered service with the U S Marine Corps F 35B in July 2015 followed by the U S Air Force F 35A in August 2016 and the U S Navy F 35C in February 2019 1 2 3 The aircraft was first used in combat in 2018 by the Israeli Air Force 12 The U S plans to buy 2 456 F 35s through 2044 which will represent the bulk of the crewed tactical aviation of the U S Air Force Navy and Marine Corps for several decades the aircraft is planned to be a cornerstone of NATO and U S allied air power and to operate until 2070 13 14 Contents 1 Development 1 1 Program origins 1 2 JSF competition 1 3 Design and production 1 4 Upgrades and further development 1 5 Procurement and international participation 2 Design 2 1 Overview 2 2 Sensors and avionics 2 3 Stealth and signatures 2 4 Cockpit 2 5 Armament 2 6 Engine 2 7 Maintenance and logistics 3 Operational history 3 1 Testing 3 2 United States 3 2 1 Training 3 2 2 U S Marine Corps 3 2 3 U S Air Force 3 2 4 U S Navy 3 3 United Kingdom 3 4 Australia 3 5 Israel 3 6 Italy 3 7 Japan 3 8 Norway 3 9 Netherlands 4 Variants 4 1 F 35A 4 2 F 35B 4 3 F 35C 4 4 F 35I Adir 4 5 Proposed variants 4 5 1 CF 35 4 5 2 New export variant 4 5 3 F 35D notional concept 5 Operators 5 1 Order and approval cancellations 6 Accidents and notable incidents 7 Specifications F 35A 7 1 Differences between variants 8 Appearances in media 9 See also 10 Notes 11 References 11 1 Bibliography 12 Further reading 13 External linksDevelopment EditMain article Lockheed Martin F 35 Lightning II development Program origins Edit The F 35 was the product of the Joint Strike Fighter JSF program which was the merger of various combat aircraft programs from the 1980s and 1990s One progenitor program was the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency DARPA Advanced Short Take Off Vertical Landing ASTOVL which ran from 1983 to 1994 ASTOVL aimed to develop a Harrier jump jet replacement for the U S Marine Corps USMC and the U K Royal Navy Under one of ASTOVL s classified programs the Supersonic STOVL Fighter SSF Lockheed Skunk Works conducted research for a stealthy supersonic STOVL fighter intended for both U S Air Force USAF and USMC a key technology explored was the shaft driven lift fan SDLF system Lockheed s concept was a single engine canard delta aircraft weighing about 24 000 lb 11 000 kg empty ASTOVL was rechristened as the Common Affordable Lightweight Fighter CALF in 1993 and involved Lockheed McDonnell Douglas and Boeing 15 16 In 1993 the Joint Advanced Strike Technology JAST program emerged following the cancellation of the USAF s Multi Role Fighter MRF and U S Navy s USN Advanced Fighter Attack A F X programs MRF a program for a relatively affordable F 16 replacement was scaled back and delayed due to post Cold War defense posture easing F 16 fleet usage and thus extending its service life as well as increasing budget pressure from the F 22 Advanced Tactical Fighter ATF program The A F X initially known as the Advanced Attack A X began in 1991 as the USN s follow on to the Advanced Tactical Aircraft ATA program for an A 6 replacement the ATA s resulting A 12 Avenger II had been canceled due to technical problems and cost overruns in 1991 In the same year the termination of the Naval Advanced Tactical Fighter NATF a naval development of USAF s ATF program to replace the F 14 resulted in additional fighter capability being added to A X which was then renamed A F X Amid increased budget pressure the Department of Defense s DoD Bottom Up Review BUR in September 1993 announced MRF s and A F X s cancellations with applicable experience brought to the emerging JAST program 16 JAST was not meant to develop a new aircraft but rather to develop requirements mature technologies and demonstrate concepts for advanced strike warfare 17 As JAST progressed the need for concept demonstrator aircraft by 1996 emerged which would coincide with the full scale flight demonstrator phase of ASTOVL CALF Because the ASTOVL CALF concept appeared to align with the JAST charter the two programs were eventually merged in 1994 under the JAST name with the program now serving the USAF USMC and USN 17 JAST was subsequently renamed to Joint Strike Fighter JSF in 1995 with STOVL submissions by McDonnell Douglas Northrop Grumman Lockheed Martin N 2 and Boeing The JSF was expected to eventually replace large numbers of multi role and strike fighters in the inventories of the US and its allies including the Harrier F 16 F A 18 A 10 and F 117 18 International participation is a key aspect of the JSF program starting with United Kingdom participation in the ASTOVL program Many international partners requiring modernization of their air forces were interested in the JSF The United Kingdom joined JAST JSF as a founding member in 1995 and thus became the only Tier 1 partner of the JSF program 19 Italy the Netherlands Denmark Norway Canada Australia and Turkey joined the program during the Concept Demonstration Phase CDP with Italy and the Netherlands being Tier 2 partners and the rest Tier 3 Consequently the aircraft was developed in cooperation with international partners and available for export 20 JSF competition Edit Main articles Joint Strike Fighter program and Lockheed Martin X 35 Boeing and Lockheed Martin were selected in early 1997 for CDP with their concept demonstrator aircraft designated X 32 and X 35 respectively the McDonnell Douglas team was eliminated and Northrop Grumman and British Aerospace joined the Lockheed Martin team Each firm would produce two prototype air vehicles to demonstrate conventional takeoff and landing CTOL carrier takeoff and landing CV and STOVL N 3 Lockheed Martin s design would make use of the work on the SDLF system conducted under the ASTOVL CALF program The key aspect of the X 35 that enabled STOVL operation the SDLF system consists of the lift fan in the forward center fuselage that could be activated by engaging a clutch that connects the driveshaft to the turbines and thus augmenting the thrust from the engine s swivel nozzle Research from prior aircraft incorporating similar systems such as the Convair Model 200 N 4 Rockwell XFV 12 and Yakovlev Yak 141 were also taken into consideration 22 23 24 By contrast Boeing s X 32 employed direct lift system that the augmented turbofan would be reconfigured to when engaging in STOVL operation X 35B flying over Edwards Air Force Base Lockheed Martin s commonality strategy was to replace the STOVL variant s SDLF with a fuel tank and the aft swivel nozzle with a two dimensional thrust vectoring nozzle for the CTOL variant N 5 This would enable identical aerodynamic configuration for the STOVL and CTOL variants while the CV variant would have an enlarged wing to reduce landing speed for carrier recovery 25 Due to aerodynamic characteristics and carrier recovery requirements from the JAST merger the design configuration settled on a conventional tail compared to the canard delta design from the ASTOVL CALF notably the conventional tail configuration offers much lower risk for carrier recovery compared to the ASTOVL CALF canard configuration which was designed without carrier compatibility in mind This enabled greater commonality between all three variants as the commonality goal was important at this design stage 25 Lockheed Martin s prototypes would consist of the X 35A for demonstrating CTOL before converting it to the X 35B for STOVL demonstration and the larger winged X 35C for CV compatibility demonstration 26 The X 35A first flew on 24 October 2000 and conducted flight tests for subsonic and supersonic flying qualities handling range and maneuver performance 27 After 28 flights the aircraft was then converted into the X 35B for STOVL testing with key changes including the addition of the SDLF the three bearing swivel module 3BSM and roll control ducts The X 35B would successfully demonstrate the SDLF system by performing stable hover vertical landing and short takeoff in less than 500 ft 150 m 25 28 The X 35C first flew on 16 December 2000 and conducted field landing carrier practice tests 27 On 26 October 2001 Lockheed Martin was declared the winner and was awarded the System Development and Demonstration SDD contract Pratt amp Whitney was separately awarded a development contract for the F135 engine for the JSF 29 The F 35 designation which was out of sequence with standard DoD numbering was allegedly determined on the spot by program manager Major General Mike Hough this came as a surprise even to Lockheed Martin which had expected the F 24 designation for the JSF 30 Design and production Edit An F 35 wind tunnel testing model in 16 foot 5 m transonic wind tunnel at the Arnold Engineering Development Center As the JSF program moved into the System Development and Demonstration phase the X 35 demonstrator design was modified to create the F 35 combat aircraft The forward fuselage was lengthened by 5 inches 13 cm to make room for mission avionics while the horizontal stabilizers were moved 2 inches 5 1 cm aft to retain balance and control The diverterless supersonic inlet changed from a four sided to a three sided cowl shape and was moved 30 inches 76 cm aft The fuselage section was fuller the top surface raised by 1 inch 2 5 cm along the centerline to accommodate weapons bays Following the designation of the X 35 prototypes the three variants were designated F 35A CTOL F 35B STOVL and F 35C CV all with a design service life of 8 000 hours Prime contractor Lockheed Martin performs overall systems integration and final assembly and checkout FACO at Fort Worth Texas N 6 while Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems supply components for mission systems and airframe 31 32 Adding the systems of a fighter aircraft added weight The F 35B gained the most largely due to a 2003 decision to enlarge the weapons bays for commonality between variants the total weight growth was reportedly up to 2 200 pounds 1 000 kg over 8 causing all STOVL key performance parameter KPP thresholds to be missed 33 In December 2003 the STOVL Weight Attack Team SWAT was formed to reduce the weight increase changes included thinned airframe members smaller weapons bays and vertical stabilizers less thrust fed to the roll post outlets and redesigning the wing mate joint electrical elements and the airframe immediately aft of the cockpit The inlet was also revised to accommodate more powerful greater mass flow engines 34 35 Many changes from the SWAT effort were applied to all three variants for commonality By September 2004 these efforts had reduced the F 35B s weight by over 3 000 pounds 1 400 kg while the F 35A and F 35C were reduced in weight by 2 400 pounds 1 100 kg and 1 900 pounds 860 kg respectively 25 36 The weight reduction work cost 6 2 billion and caused an 18 month delay 37 The first F 35A prototype AA 1 being towed to its inauguration ceremony on 7 July 2006 The first F 35A designated AA 1 was rolled out at Fort Worth on 19 February 2006 and first flew on 15 December 2006 N 7 38 In 2006 the F 35 was given the name Lightning II after the Lockheed P 38 Lightning of World War II 39 Some USAF pilots have nicknamed the aircraft Panther instead 40 The aircraft s software was developed as six releases or Blocks for SDD The first two Blocks 1A and 1B readied the F 35 for initial pilot training and multi level security Block 2A improved the training capabilities while 2B was the first combat ready release planned for the USMC s Initial Operating Capability IOC Block 3i retains the capabilities of 2B while having new hardware and was planned for the USAF s IOC The final release for SDD Block 3F would have full flight envelope and all baseline combat capabilities Alongside software releases each block also incorporates avionics hardware updates and air vehicle improvements from flight and structural testing 41 In what is known as concurrency some low rate initial production LRIP aircraft lots would be delivered in early Block configurations and eventually upgraded to Block 3F once development is complete 42 After 17 000 flight test hours the final flight for the SDD phase was completed in April 2018 43 Like the F 22 the F 35 has been targeted by cyberattacks and technology theft efforts as well as potential vulnerabilities in the integrity of the supply chain 44 45 46 Testing found several major problems early F 35B airframes had premature cracking N 8 the F 35C arrestor hook design was unreliable fuel tanks were too vulnerable to lightning strikes the helmet display had problems and more Software was repeatedly delayed due to its unprecedented scope and complexity In 2009 the DoD Joint Estimate Team JET estimated that the program was 30 months behind the public schedule 47 48 In 2011 the program was re baselined that is its cost and schedule goals were changed pushing the IOC from the planned 2010 to July 2015 49 50 The decision to simultaneously test fix defects and begin production was criticized as inefficient in 2014 Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition Frank Kendall called it acquisition malpractice 51 The three variants shared just 25 of their parts far below the anticipated commonality of 70 52 The program received considerable criticism for cost overruns and for the total projected lifetime cost as well as quality management shortcomings by contractors 53 54 The JSF program was expected to cost about 200 billion for acquisition in base year 2002 dollars when SDD was awarded in 2001 55 56 As early as 2005 the Government Accountability Office GAO had identified major program risks in cost and schedule 57 The costly delays strained the relationship between the Pentagon and contractors 58 By 2017 delays and cost overruns had pushed the F 35 program s expected acquisition costs to 406 5 billion with total lifetime cost i e to 2070 to 1 5 trillion in then year dollars which also includes operations and maintenance 59 60 61 The F 35A s unit cost for LRIP Lot 13 was 79 2 million 62 Delays in development and operational test and evaluation pushed full rate production to 2023 63 64 Upgrades and further development Edit USAF F 35A at RAF Fairford for RIAT 2018 The first combat capable Block 2B configuration which had basic air to air and strike capabilities was declared ready by the USMC in July 2015 1 The Block 3F configuration began operational test and evaluation OT amp E in December 2018 the completion of which will conclude SDD 65 The F 35 program is also conducting sustainment and upgrade development with early LRIP aircraft gradually upgraded to the baseline Block 3F standard by 2021 66 The F 35 is expected to be continually upgraded over its lifetime The first upgrade program called Continuous Capability Development and Delivery C2D2 began in 2019 and is currently planned to run to 2024 The near term development priority of C2D2 is Block 4 which would integrate additional weapons including those unique to international customers refresh the avionics improve ESM capabilities and add Remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receiver ROVER support 67 C2D2 also places greater emphasis on agile software development to enable quicker releases 68 In 2018 the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center AFLCMC awarded contracts to General Electric and Pratt amp Whitney to develop more powerful and efficient adaptive cycle engines for potential application in the F 35 leveraging the research done under the Adaptive Engine Transition Program AETP in 2022 the F 35 Adaptive Engine Replacement FAER program was launched to integrate adaptive cycle engines into the aircraft by 2028 69 70 Defense contractors have offered upgrades to the F 35 outside of official program contracts In 2013 Northrop Grumman disclosed its development of a directional infrared countermeasures suite named Threat Nullification Defensive Resource ThNDR The countermeasure system would share the same space as the Distributed Aperture System DAS sensors and acts as a laser missile jammer to protect against infrared homing missiles 71 Israel wants more access to the core avionics to include their own equipment 72 In September 2022 the F 35 delivery was temporarily suspended after determining Chinese sourced materials were used in Honeywell pumps 73 Procurement and international participation Edit The United States is the primary customer and financial backer with planned procurement of 1 763 F 35As for the USAF 353 F 35Bs and 67 F 35Cs for the USMC and 273 F 35Cs for the USN 74 Additionally the United Kingdom Italy the Netherlands Turkey Australia Norway Denmark and Canada have agreed to contribute US 4 375 billion towards development costs with the United Kingdom contributing about 10 of the planned development costs as the sole Tier 1 partner 19 The initial plan was that the U S and eight major partner countries would acquire over 3 100 F 35s through 2035 75 The three tiers of international participation generally reflect financial stake in the program the amount of technology transfer and subcontracts open for bid by national companies and the order in which countries can obtain production aircraft 76 Alongside program partner countries Israel and Singapore have joined as Security Cooperative Participants SCP 77 78 79 Sales to SCP and non partner states including Belgium Japan and South Korea are made through the Pentagon s Foreign Military Sales program 7 80 Turkey was removed from the F 35 program in July 2019 over security concerns following its purchase of a Russian S 400 surface to air missile system 81 82 N 9 Design EditOverview Edit The F 35 is a family of single engine supersonic stealth multirole fighters 84 The second fifth generation fighter to enter US service and the first operational supersonic STOVL stealth fighter the F 35 emphasizes low observables advanced avionics and sensor fusion that enable a high level of situational awareness and long range lethality 85 86 87 the USAF considers the aircraft its primary strike fighter for conducting suppression of enemy air defense SEAD missions owing to the advanced sensors and mission systems 88 From the top F 35A of the 33rd FW F 35B of VMFAT 501 and F 35C of VFA 101 near Eglin AFB 2014 The F 35 has a wing tail configuration with two vertical stabilizers canted for stealth Flight control surfaces include leading edge flaps flaperons N 10 rudders and all moving horizontal tails stabilators leading edge root extensions also run forwards to the inlets The relatively short 35 foot wingspan of the F 35A and F 35B is set by the requirement to fit inside USN amphibious assault ship parking areas and elevators the F 35C s larger wing is more fuel efficient 89 90 The fixed diverterless supersonic inlets DSI use a bumped compression surface and forward swept cowl to shed the boundary layer of the forebody away from the inlets which form a Y duct for the engine 91 Structurally the F 35 drew upon lessons from the F 22 composites comprise 35 of airframe weight with the majority being bismaleimide and composite epoxy materials as well as some carbon nanotube reinforced epoxy in later production lots 92 93 94 The F 35 is considerably heavier than the lightweight fighters it replaces with the lightest variant having an empty weight of 29 300 lb 13 300 kg much of the weight can be attributed to the internal weapons bays and the extensive avionics carried 95 While lacking the raw performance of the larger twin engine F 22 the F 35 has kinematics competitive with fourth generation fighters such as the F 16 and F A 18 especially with ordnance mounted because the F 35 s internal weapons carriage eliminates parasitic drag from external stores 96 All variants have a top speed of Mach 1 6 attainable with full internal payload The powerful F135 engine gives good subsonic acceleration and energy with supersonic dash in afterburner The large stabilitors leading edge extensions and flaps and canted rudders provide excellent high alpha angle of attack characteristics with a trimmed alpha of 50 Relaxed stability and fly by wire controls provide excellent handling qualities and departure resistance 97 98 Having over double the F 16 s internal fuel the F 35 has a considerably greater combat radius while stealth also enables a more efficient mission flight profile 99 Sensors and avionics Edit Electro optical target system EOTS under the nose of an F 35 The F 35 s mission systems are among the most complex aspects of the aircraft The avionics and sensor fusion are designed to enhance the pilot s situational awareness and command and control capabilities and facilitate network centric warfare 84 100 Key sensors include the Northrop Grumman AN APG 81 active electronically scanned array AESA radar BAE Systems AN ASQ 239 Barracuda electronic warfare system Northrop Grumman Raytheon AN AAQ 37 Distributed Aperture System DAS Lockheed Martin AN AAQ 40 Electro Optical Targeting System EOTS and Northrop Grumman AN ASQ 242 Communications Navigation and Identification CNI suite The F 35 was designed with sensor intercommunication to provide a cohesive image of the local battlespace and availability for any possible use and combination with one another for example the APG 81 radar also acts as a part of the electronic warfare system 101 Much of the F 35 s software was developed in C and C programming languages while Ada83 code from the F 22 was also used the Block 3F software has 8 6 million lines of code 102 103 The Green Hills Software Integrity DO 178B real time operating system RTOS runs on integrated core processors ICPs data networking includes the IEEE 1394b and Fibre Channel buses 104 105 To enable fleet software upgrades for the software defined radio systems and greater upgrade flexibility and affordability the avionics leverage commercial off the shelf COTS components when practical 106 107 108 The mission systems software particularly for sensor fusion was one of the program s most difficult parts and responsible for substantial program delays N 11 110 111 AN APG 81 AESA radar antenna The APG 81 radar uses electronic scanning for rapid beam agility and incorporates passive and active air to air modes strike modes and synthetic aperture radar SAR capability with multiple target track while scan at ranges in excess of 80 nmi 150 km The antenna is tilted backwards for stealth 112 Complementing the radar is the AAQ 37 DAS which consists of six infrared sensors that provide all aspect missile launch warning and target tracking the DAS acts as a situational awareness infrared search and track SAIRST and gives the pilot spherical infrared and night vision imagery on the helmet visor 113 The ASQ 239 Barracuda electronic warfare system has ten radio frequency antennas embedded into the edges of the wing and tail for all aspect radar warning receiver RWR It also provides sensor fusion of radio frequency and infrared tracking functions geolocation threat targeting and multispectral image countermeasures for self defense against missiles The electronic warfare system is capable of detecting and jamming hostile radars 114 The AAQ 40 EOTS is mounted internally behind a faceted low observable window under the nose and performs laser targeting forward looking infrared FLIR and long range IRST functions 115 The ASQ 242 CNI suite uses a half dozen different physical links including the directional Multifunction Advanced Data Link MADL for covert CNI functions 116 117 Through sensor fusion information from radio frequency receivers and infrared sensors are combined to form a single tactical picture for the pilot The all aspect target direction and identification can be shared via MADL to other platforms without compromising low observability while Link 16 is present for communication with legacy systems 118 The F 35 was designed from the outset to incorporate improved processors sensors and software enhancements over its lifespan Technology Refresh 3 which includes a new core processor and a new cockpit display is planned for Lot 15 aircraft 119 Lockheed Martin has offered the Advanced EOTS for the Block 4 configuration the improved sensor fits into the same area as the baseline EOTS with minimal changes 120 In June 2018 Lockheed Martin picked Raytheon for improved DAS 121 The USAF has studied the potential for the F 35 to orchestrate attacks by unmanned combat aerial vehicles UCAVs via its sensors and communications equipment 122 A new radar called the AN APG 85 is planned for Block 4 F 35s 123 According to the JPO the new radar will be compatible with all three major F 35 variants However it is unclear if older aircraft will be retrofitted with the new radar 123 Stealth and signatures Edit Note the sawtooth design on the landing gear door and access panels Stealth is a key aspect of the F 35 s design and radar cross section RCS is minimized through careful shaping of the airframe and the use of radar absorbent materials RAM visible measures to reduce RCS include alignment of edges serration of skin panels and the masking of the engine face and turbine Additionally the F 35 s diverterless supersonic inlet DSI uses a compression bump and forward swept cowl rather than a splitter gap or bleed system to divert the boundary layer away from the inlet duct eliminating the diverter cavity and further reducing radar signature 91 124 The RCS of the F 35 has been characterized as lower than a metal golf ball at certain frequencies and angles in some conditions the F 35 compares favorably to the F 22 in stealth 125 126 127 For maintainability the F 35 s stealth design took lessons learned from prior stealth aircraft such as the F 22 the F 35 s radar absorbent fibermat skin is more durable and requires less maintenance than older topcoats 128 The aircraft also has reduced infrared and visual signatures as well as strict controls of radio frequency emitters to prevent their detection 129 130 131 The F 35 s stealth design is primarily focused on high frequency X band wavelengths 132 low frequency radars can spot stealthy aircraft due to Rayleigh scattering but such radars are also conspicuous susceptible to clutter and lack precision 133 134 135 To disguise its RCS the aircraft can mount four Luneburg lens reflectors 136 Noise from the F 35 caused concerns in residential areas near potential bases for the aircraft and residents near two such bases Luke Air Force Base Arizona and Eglin Air Force Base AFB Florida requested environmental impact studies in 2008 and 2009 respectively 137 Although the noise level in decibels were comparable to those of prior fighters such as the F 16 the sound power of the F 35 is stronger particularly at lower frequencies 138 Subsequent surveys and studies have indicated that the noise of the F 35 was not perceptibly different from the F 16 and F A 18E F though the greater low frequency noise was noticeable for some observers 139 140 141 Cockpit Edit F 35 cockpit simulator The glass cockpit was designed to give the pilot good situational awareness The main display is a 20 by 8 inch 50 by 20 cm panoramic touchscreen which shows flight instruments stores management CNI information and integrated caution and warnings the pilot can customize the arrangement of the information Below the main display is a smaller stand by display 142 The cockpit has a speech recognition system developed by Adacel 143 The F 35 does not have a head up display instead flight and combat information is displayed on the visor of the pilot s helmet in a helmet mounted display system HMDS 144 The one piece tinted canopy is hinged at the front and has an internal frame for structural strength The Martin Baker US16E ejection seat is launched by a twin catapult system housed on side rails 145 There is a right hand side stick and throttle hands on throttle and stick system For life support an onboard oxygen generation system OBOGS is fitted and powered by the Integrated Power Package IPP with an auxiliary oxygen bottle and backup oxygen system for emergencies 146 The F 35 s helmet mounted display system The Vision Systems International N 12 helmet display is a key piece of the F 35 s human machine interface Instead of the head up display mounted atop the dashboard of earlier fighters the HMDS puts flight and combat information on the helmet visor allowing the pilot to see it no matter which way they are facing 147 Infrared and night vision imagery from the Distributed Aperture System can be displayed directly on the HMDS and enables the pilot to see through the aircraft The HMDS allows an F 35 pilot to fire missiles at targets even when the nose of the aircraft is pointing elsewhere by cuing missile seekers at high angles off boresight 148 149 Each helmet costs 400 000 150 The HMDS weighs more than traditional helmets and there is concern that it can endanger lightweight pilots during ejection 151 Due to the HMDS s vibration jitter night vision and sensor display problems during development Lockheed Martin and Elbit issued a draft specification in 2011 for an alternative HMDS based on the AN AVS 9 night vision goggles as backup with BAE Systems chosen later that year 152 153 A cockpit redesign would be needed to adopt an alternative HMDS 154 155 Following progress on the baseline helmet development on the alternative HMDS was halted in October 2013 156 157 In 2016 the Gen 3 helmet with improved night vision camera new liquid crystal displays automated alignment and software enhancements was introduced with LRIP lot 7 156 Armament Edit To preserve its stealth shaping the F 35 has two internal weapons bays with four weapons stations The two outboard weapon stations each can carry ordnance up to 2 500 lb 1 100 kg or 1 500 lb 680 kg for the F 35B while the two inboard stations carry air to air missiles Air to surface weapons for the outboard station include the Joint Direct Attack Munition JDAM Paveway series of bombs Joint Standoff Weapon JSOW and cluster munitions Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser The station can also carry multiple smaller munitions such as the GBU 39 Small Diameter Bombs SDB GBU 53 B SDB II and SPEAR 3 anti tank missiles up to four SDBs can be carried per station for the F 35A and F 35C and three for the F 35B 158 159 160 The inboard station can carry the AIM 120 AMRAAM Two compartments behind the weapons bays contain flares chaff and towed decoys 161 F 35A with all weapon bay doors open The aircraft can use six external weapons stations for missions that do not require stealth 162 The wingtip pylons each can carry an AIM 9X or AIM 132 ASRAAM and are canted outwards to reduce their radar cross section 163 164 Additionally each wing has a 5 000 lb 2 300 kg inboard station and a 2 500 lb 1 100 kg middle station or 1 500 lb 680 kg for F 35B The external wing stations can carry large air to surface weapons that would not fit inside the weapons bays such as the AGM 158 Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missile JASSM cruise missile An air to air missile load of eight AIM 120s and two AIM 9s is possible using internal and external weapons stations a configuration of six 2 000 lb 910 kg bombs two AIM 120s and two AIM 9s can also be arranged 148 165 166 The F 35A is armed with a 25 mm GAU 22 A rotary cannon mounted internally near the left wing root with 182 rounds carried the gun is more effective against ground targets than the 20 mm cannon carried by other USAF fighters The F 35B and F 35C have no internal gun and instead can use a Terma A S multi mission pod MMP carrying the GAU 22 A and 220 rounds the pod is mounted on the centerline of the aircraft and shaped to reduce its radar cross section 167 168 In lieu of the gun the pod can also be used for different equipment and purposes such as electronic warfare aerial reconnaissance or rear facing tactical radar 169 170 Lockheed Martin is developing a weapon rack called Sidekick that would enable the internal outboard station to carry two AIM 120s thus increasing the internal air to air payload to six missiles currently offered for Block 4 171 172 Block 4 will also have a rearranged hydraulic line and bracket to allow the F 35B to carry four SDBs per internal outboard station integration of the MBDA Meteor is also planned 173 174 The USAF and USN are planning to integrate the AGM 88G AARGM ER internally in the F 35A and F 35C 175 Norway and Australia are funding an adaptation of the Naval Strike Missile NSM for the F 35 designated Joint Strike Missile JSM two missiles can be carried internally with an additional four externally 176 Nuclear weapons delivery via internal carriage of the B61 nuclear bomb is planned for Block 4B in 2024 177 Both hypersonic missiles and direct energy weapons such as solid state laser are currently being considered as future upgrades N 13 181 Lockheed Martin is studying integrating a fiber laser that uses spectral beam combining multiple individual laser modules into a single high power beam which can be scaled to various levels 182 The USAF plans for the F 35A to take up the close air support CAS mission in contested environments amid criticism that it is not as well suited as a dedicated attack platform USAF chief of staff Mark Welsh placed a focus on weapons for CAS sorties including guided rockets fragmentation rockets that shatter into individual projectiles before impact and more compact ammunition for higher capacity gun pods 183 Fragmentary rocket warheads create greater effects than cannon shells as each rocket creates a thousand round burst delivering more projectiles than a strafing run 184 Engine Edit The single engine aircraft is powered by the Pratt amp Whitney F135 low bypass augmented turbofan with rated thrust of 43 000 lbf 191 kN Derived from the Pratt amp Whitney F119 used by the F 22 the F135 has a larger fan and higher bypass ratio to increase subsonic thrust and fuel efficiency and unlike the F119 is not optimized for supercruise 185 The engine contributes to the F 35 s stealth by having a low observable augmenter or afterburner that incorporates fuel injectors into thick curved vanes these vanes are covered by ceramic radar absorbent materials and mask the turbine The stealthy augmenter had problems with pressure pulsations or screech at low altitude and high speed early in its development 186 The low observable axisymmetric nozzle consists of 15 partially overlapping flaps that create a sawtooth pattern at the trailing edge which reduces radar signature and creates shed vortices that reduce the infrared signature of the exhaust plume 187 Due to the engine s large dimensions the U S Navy had to modify its underway replenishment system to facilitate at sea logistics support 188 The F 35 s Integrated Power Package IPP performs power and thermal management and integrates environment control auxiliary power unit engine starting and other functions into a single system 189 Illustration of the STOVL swivel nozzle lift fan and roll control posts The F135 PW 600 variant for the F 35B incorporates the Shaft Driven Lift Fan SDLF to allow STOVL operations Designed by Lockheed Martin and developed by Rolls Royce the SDLF also known as the Rolls Royce LiftSystem consists of the lift fan drive shaft two roll posts and a three bearing swivel module 3BSM The thrust vectoring 3BSM nozzle allows the main engine exhaust to be deflected downward at the tail of the aircraft and is moved by a fueldraulic actuator that uses pressurized fuel as the working fluid 190 191 192 Unlike the Harrier s Pegasus engine that entirely uses direct engine thrust for lift the F 35B s system augments the swivel nozzle s thrust with the lift fan the fan is powered by the low pressure turbine through a drive shaft when engaged with a clutch and placed near the front of the aircraft to provide a counterbalancing thrust 193 194 195 Roll control during slow flight is achieved by diverting unheated engine bypass air through wing mounted thrust nozzles called roll posts 196 197 An alternative engine the General Electric Rolls Royce F136 was being developed in the 2000s originally F 35 engines from Lot 6 onward were competitively tendered Using technology from the General Electric YF120 the F136 was claimed to have a greater temperature margin than the F135 due to the higher mass flow design making full use of the inlet 34 198 The F136 was canceled in December 2011 due to lack of funding 199 200 The F 35 is expected to receive propulsion upgrades over its lifecycle to adapt to emerging threats and enable additional capabilities In 2016 the Adaptive Engine Transition Program AETP was launched to develop and test adaptive cycle engines with one major potential application being the re engining of the F 35 in 2018 both GE and P amp W were awarded contracts to develop 45 000 lbf 200 kN thrust class demonstrators with the designations XA100 and XA101 respectively 69 In addition to potential re engining P amp W also plans to improve the baseline F135 in 2017 P amp W announced the F135 Growth Option 1 0 and 2 0 Growth Option 1 0 was a drop in power module upgrade that offered 6 10 thrust improvement and 5 6 fuel burn reduction while Growth Option 2 0 would be the adaptive cycle XA101 201 202 In 2020 P amp W shifted its F135 upgrade plan from the Growth Options to a series of Engine Enhancement Packages along with some additional capabilities while the XA101 became a separate clean sheet design The capability packages are planned to be incorporated in two year increments starting in the mid 2020s 203 In December 2020 GE s XA100 A100 completed its first successful run GE s detailed design was completed in February 2019 and initial testing at GE s high altitude test facility in Evendale Ohio was concluded in May 2021 204 205 206 GE expects that the A100 can enter service with the F 35A and C in 2027 at the earliest 207 Maintenance and logistics Edit The F 35 is designed to require less maintenance than prior stealth aircraft Some 95 of all field replaceable parts are one deep that is nothing else need be removed to reach the desired part for instance the ejection seat can be replaced without removing the canopy The F 35 has a fibermat radar absorbent material RAM baked into the skin which is more durable easier to work with and faster to cure than older RAM coatings similar coatings are being considered for application on older stealth aircraft such as the F 22 128 208 209 Skin corrosion on the F 22 led the F 35 using a less galvanic corrosion inducing skin gap filler fewer gaps in the airframe skin needing filler and better drainage 210 The flight control system uses electro hydrostatic actuators rather than traditional hydraulic systems these controls can be powered by lithium ion batteries in case of emergency 211 212 Commonality between variants led to the USMC s first aircraft maintenance Field Training Detachment which applied USAF lessons to their F 35 operations 213 The F 35 was initially supported by a computerized maintenance management system named Autonomic Logistics Information System ALIS In concept any F 35 can be serviced at any maintenance facility and all parts can be globally tracked and shared as needed 214 Due to numerous problems such as unreliable diagnoses excessive connectivity requirements and security vulnerabilities ALIS is being replaced by the cloud based Operational Data Integrated Network ODIN 215 216 217 From September 2020 ODIN base kits OBKs were running ALIS software as well as ODIN software first at Marine Corps Air Station MCAS Yuma Arizona then at Naval Air Station Lemoore California in support of Strike Fighter Squadron VFA 125 on 16 July 2021 and then Nellis Air Force Base Nevada in support of the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron TES on 6 August 2021 In 2022 over a dozen more OBK sites will replace the ALIS s Standard Operating Unit unclassified SOU U servers 218 OBK performance is double that of ALIS 219 218 220 Operational history EditMain article Lockheed Martin F 35 Lightning II procurement Testing Edit The first F 35A AA 1 conducted its engine run in September 2006 and first flew on 15 December 2006 221 Unlike all subsequent aircraft AA 1 did not have the weight optimization from SWAT consequently it mainly tested subsystems common to subsequent aircraft such as the propulsion electrical system and cockpit displays This aircraft was retired from flight testing in December 2009 and was used for live fire testing at NAS China Lake 222 The first delivered USAF F 35 on its delivery flight to Eglin AFB July 2011 The first F 35B BF 1 flew on 11 June 2008 while the first weight optimized F 35A and F 35C AF 1 and CF 1 flew on 14 November 2009 and 6 June 2010 respectively The F 35B s first hover was on 17 March 2010 followed by its first vertical landing the next day 223 The F 35 Integrated Test Force ITF consisted of 18 aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base and Naval Air Station Patuxent River Nine aircraft at Edwards five F 35As three F 35Bs and one F 35C performed flight sciences testing such as F 35A envelope expansion flight loads stores separation as well as mission systems testing The other nine aircraft at Patuxent River five F 35Bs and four F 35Cs were responsible for F 35B and C envelope expansion and STOVL and CV suitability testing Additional carrier suitability testing was conducted at Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division at Lakehurst New Jersey Two non flying aircraft of each variant were used to test static loads and fatigue 224 For testing avionics and mission systems a modified Boeing 737 300 with a duplication of the cockpit the Lockheed Martin CATBird has been used 172 Field testing of the F 35 s sensors were conducted during Exercise Northern Edge 2009 and 2011 serving as significant risk reduction steps 225 226 Flight tests revealed several serious deficiencies that required costly redesigns caused delays and resulted in several fleet wide groundings In 2011 the F 35C failed to catch the arresting wire in all eight landing tests a redesigned tail hook was delivered two years later 227 228 By June 2009 many of the initial flight test targets had been accomplished but the program was behind schedule 229 Software and mission systems were among the biggest sources of delays for the program with sensor fusion proving especially challenging 111 In fatigue testing the F 35B suffered several premature cracks requiring a redesign of the structure 230 A third non flying F 35B is currently planned to test the redesigned structure The F 35B and C also had problems with the horizontal tails suffering heat damage from prolonged afterburner use N 14 233 234 Early flight control laws had problems with wing drop N 15 and also made the airplane sluggish with high angles of attack tests in 2015 against an F 16 showing a lack of energy 235 236 A USMC F 35B launches off the ski jump of HMS Queen Elizabeth 2018 At sea testing of the F 35B was first conducted aboard USS Wasp In October 2011 two F 35Bs conducted three weeks of initial sea trials called Development Test I 237 The second F 35B sea trials Development Test II began in August 2013 with tests including nighttime operations two aircraft completed 19 nighttime vertical landings using DAS imagery 238 239 The first operational testing involving six F 35Bs was done on the Wasp in May 2015 The final Development Test III on USS America involving operations in high sea states was completed in late 2016 240 A Royal Navy F 35 conducted the first rolling landing on board HMS Queen Elizabeth in October 2018 241 source source source source source source source source source source source source USN F 35C makes the aircraft s first arrested landing aboard the carrier USS Nimitz off the coast of San Diego After the redesigned tail hook arrived the F 35C s carrier based Development Test I began in November 2014 aboard USS Nimitz and focused on basic day carrier operations and establishing launch and recovery handling procedures 242 Development Test II which focused on night operations weapons loading and full power launches took place in October 2015 The final Development Test III was completed in August 2016 and included tests of asymmetric loads and certifying systems for landing qualifications and interoperability 243 Operational test of the F 35C began in 2018 244 The F 35 s reliability and availability have fallen short of requirements especially in the early years of testing The ALIS maintenance and logistics system was plagued by excessive connectivity requirements and faulty diagnoses In late 2017 the GAO reported the time needed to repair an F 35 part averaged 172 days which was twice the program s objective and that shortage of spare parts was degrading readiness 245 In 2019 while individual F 35 units have achieved mission capable rates of over the target of 80 for short periods during deployed operations fleet wide rates remained below target The fleet availability goal of 65 was also not met although the trend shows improvement Gun accuracy of the F 35A remains unacceptable 233 246 As of 2020 the number of the program s most serious issues have been decreased by half 247 Operational test and evaluation OT amp E with Block 3F the final configuration for SDD began in December 2018 248 United States Edit Training Edit A pair of F 35Cs and F A 18E Fs fly over NAS Fallon home of TOPGUN in September 2015 The F 35A and F 35B were cleared for basic flight training in early 2012 although there were concerns over safety and performance due to lack of system maturity at the time 249 250 251 During the Low Rate Initial Production LRIP phase the three U S military services jointly developed tactics and procedures using flight simulators testing effectiveness discovering problems and refining design On 10 September 2012 the USAF began an operational utility evaluation OUE of the F 35A including logistical support maintenance personnel training and pilot execution 252 253 The USMC F 35B Fleet Replacement Squadron FRS was initially based at Eglin AFB in 2012 alongside USAF F 35A training units before moving to MCAS Beaufort in 2014 while another FRS was stood up at MCAS Miramar in 2020 254 255 The USAF F 35A basic course is held at Eglin AFB and Luke AFB in January 2013 training began at Eglin with capacity for 100 pilots and 2 100 maintainers at once 256 Additionally the 6th Weapons Squadron of the USAF Weapons School was activated at Nellis AFB in June 2017 for F 35A weapons instructor curriculum while the 65th Aggressor Squadron was reactivated with the F 35A in June 2022 to expand training against adversary stealth aircraft tactics 257 The USN stood up its F 35C FRS in 2012 with VFA 101 at Eglin AFB but operations would later be transferred and consolidated under VFA 125 at NAS Lemoore in 2019 258 The F 35C was introduced to the Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor course or TOPGUN in 2020 and the additional capabilities of the aircraft greatly revamped the course syllabus 259 U S Marine Corps Edit On 16 November 2012 the USMC received the first F 35B of VMFA 121 at MCAS Yuma 260 The USMC declared Initial Operational Capability IOC for the F 35B in the Block 2B configuration on 31 July 2015 after operational trials with some limitations in night operations mission systems and weapons carriage 1 261 USMC F 35Bs participated in their first Red Flag exercise in July 2016 with 67 sorties conducted 262 The first F 35B deployment occurred in 2017 at MCAS Iwakuni Japan combat employment began in July 2018 from the amphibious assault ship USS Essex with the first combat strike on 27 September 2018 against a Taliban target in Afghanistan 263 On 3 October 2021 USMC F 35Bs performed the aircraft s first landings and take offs from the JS Izumo In addition to deploying F 35Bs on amphibious assault ships the USMC plans to disperse the aircraft among austere forward deployed bases with shelter and concealment to enhance survivability while remaining close to a battlespace Known as distributed STOVL operations DSO F 35Bs would operate from temporary bases in allied territory within hostile missile engagement zones and displace inside the enemy s 24 to 48 hour targeting cycle this strategy allows F 35Bs to rapidly respond to operational needs with mobile forward arming and refueling points M FARPs accommodating KC 130 and MV 22 Osprey aircraft to rearm and refuel the jets as well as littoral areas for sea links of mobile distribution sites For higher echelons of maintenance F 35Bs would return from M FARPs to rear area friendly bases or ships Helicopter portable metal planking is needed to protect unprepared roads from the F 35B s exhaust the USMC are studying lighter heat resistant options 264 These operations have become part of the larger USMC Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations EABO concept 265 The first USMC F 35C squadron VMFA 314 achieved Full Operational Capability in July 2021 and was first deployed on board the USS Abraham Lincoln as a part of Carrier Air Wing 9 in January 2022 266 U S Air Force Edit USAF F 35A in the Block 3i configuration achieved IOC with the USAF s 34th Fighter Squadron at Hill Air Force Base Utah on 2 August 2016 2 F 35As conducted their first Red Flag exercise in 2017 system maturity had improved and the aircraft scored a kill ratio of 15 1 against an F 16 aggressor squadron in a high threat environment 267 The first USAF F 35A deployment occurred on 15 April 2019 to Al Dhafra Air Base UAE 268 On 27 April 2019 USAF F 35As were first used in combat in an airstrike on an Islamic State tunnel network in northern Iraq 269 For European basing RAF Lakenheath in the UK was chosen as the first installation to station two F 35A squadrons with 48 aircraft adding to the 48th Fighter Wing s existing F 15C and F 15E squadrons The first aircraft of the 495th Fighter Squadron arrived in 15 December 2021 270 271 The F 35 s operating cost is higher than some older USAF tactical aircraft In fiscal year 2018 the F 35A s cost per flight hour CPFH was 44 000 a number that was reduced to 35 000 in 2019 272 For comparison in 2015 the CPFH of the A 10 was 17 716 the F 15C 41 921 and the F 16C 22 514 273 Lockheed Martin hopes to reduce it to 25 000 by 2025 through performance based logistics and other measures 274 U S Navy Edit The USN achieved operational status with the F 35C in Block 3F on 28 February 2019 3 On 2 August 2021 the F 35C of VFA 147 as well as the CMV 22 Osprey embarked on their maiden deployments as part of Carrier Air Wing 2 on board the USS Carl Vinson 275 United Kingdom Edit F 35B ZM148 of No 617 Squadron landing on HMS Queen Elizabeth 2019 The United Kingdom s Royal Air Force and Royal Navy both operate the F 35B known simply as the Lightning in British service 276 it has replaced the Harrier GR9 which was retired in 2010 and Tornado GR4 which was retired in 2019 The F 35 is to be Britain s primary strike aircraft for the next three decades One of the Royal Navy s requirements for the F 35B was a Shipborne Rolling and Vertical Landing SRVL mode to increase maximum landing weight by using wing lift during landing 277 278 When operating on the aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales British F 35Bs use ski jumps The Italian Navy use the same process British F 35Bs are not intended to use the Brimstone 2 missile 279 In July 2013 Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton announced that No 617 The Dambusters Squadron would be the RAF s first operational F 35 squadron 280 281 The second operational squadron will be the Fleet Air Arm s 809 Naval Air Squadron which will stand up in April 2023 or later 282 283 No 17 Reserve Test and Evaluation Squadron TES stood up on 12 April 2013 as the Operational Evaluation Unit for the Lightning becoming the first British squadron to operate the type 284 By June 2013 the RAF had received three F 35s of the 48 on order initially based at Eglin Air Force Base 285 In June 2015 the F 35B undertook its first launch from a ski jump at NAS Patuxent River 286 On 5 July 2017 it was announced the second UK based RAF squadron would be No 207 Squadron 287 which reformed on 1 August 2019 as the Lightning Operational Conversion Unit 288 No 617 Squadron reformed on 18 April 2018 during a ceremony in Washington D C becoming the first RAF front line squadron to operate the type 289 receiving its first four F 35Bs on 6 June flying from MCAS Beaufort to RAF Marham 290 On 10 January 2019 No 617 Squadron and its F 35s were declared combat ready 291 In April 2019 No 617 Squadron deployed to RAF Akrotiri Cyprus the type s first overseas deployment 292 On 25 June 2019 the first combat use of an RAF F 35B was reportedly undertaken as armed reconnaissance flights searching for Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria 293 In October 2019 the Dambusters and No 17 TES F 35s were embarked on HMS Queen Elizabeth for the first time 294 No 617 Squadron departed RAF Marham on 22 January 2020 for their first Exercise Red Flag with the Lightning 295 As of November 2022 26 F 35Bs were based in the United Kingdom with 617 and 207 Squadrons and a further three were permanently based in the United States with 17 Squadron for testing and evaluation purposes 296 Australia Edit An RAAF F 35A at the 2019 Australian International Airshow in Avalon Victoria Australia s first F 35 designated A35 001 was manufactured in 2014 with flight training provided through international Pilot Training Centre PTC at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona 297 The first two F 35s were unveiled to the Australian public on 3 March 2017 at the Avalon Airshow 298 By 2021 the Royal Australian Air Force had accepted 26 F 35As with nine in the US and 17 operating at No 3 Squadron and No 2 Operational Conversion Unit at RAAF Base Williamtown 297 With 41 trained RAAF pilots and 225 trained technicians for maintenance the fleet was declared ready to deploy on operations 299 It is expected that Australia will receive all 72 F 35s by 2023 298 Israel Edit The F 35I Adir accompanied by a 253 Squadron F 16I Sufa on its debut flight in Israel December 2016 The Israeli Air Force IAF declared the F 35 operationally capable on 6 December 2017 300 According to Kuwaiti newspaper Al Jarida in July 2018 a test mission of at least three IAF F 35s flew to Iran s capital Tehran and back to Tel Aviv While publicly unconfirmed regional leaders acted on the report Iran s supreme leader Ali Khamenei reportedly fired the air force chief and commander of Iran s Revolutionary Guard Corps over the mission 301 302 On 22 May 2018 IAF chief Amikam Norkin said that the service had employed their F 35Is in two attacks on two battle fronts marking the first combat operation of an F 35 by any country 12 303 Norkin said it had been flown all over the Middle East and showed photos of an F 35I flying over Beirut in daylight 304 In July 2019 Israel expanded its strikes against Iranian missile shipments IAF F 35Is allegedly struck Iranian targets in Iraq twice 305 In November 2020 the IAF announced the delivery of a unique F 35I testbed aircraft among a delivery of four aircraft received in August to be used to test and integrate Israeli produced weapons and electronic systems on F 35s received later This is the only example of a testbed F 35 delivered to a non US air force 306 307 On 11 May 2021 eight IAF F 35Is took part in an attack on 150 targets in Hamas rocket array including 50 70 launch pits in the northern Gaza Strip as part of Operation Guardian of the Walls 308 On 6 March 2022 the IDF stated that on 15 March 2021 F 35Is shot down two Iranian drones carrying weapons to the Gaza Strip 309 This was the first operational shoot down and interception carried out by the F 35 Italy Edit Italy s F 35As were declared to have reached initial operational capability IOC on 30 November 2018 At the time Italy had taken delivery of 10 F 35As and one F 35B with 2 F 35As and the one F 35B being stationed in the U S for training the remaining 8 F 35As were stationed in Amendola 310 Japan Edit Japan s F 35As were declared to have reached initial operational capability IOC on 29 March 2019 At the time Japan had taken delivery of 10 F 35As stationed in Misawa Air Base Japan plans to eventually acquire a total of 147 F 35s which will include 42 F 35Bs It plans to use the latter variant to equip Japan s Izumo class multi purpose destroyers 311 312 Norway Edit First Norwegian F 35 Lightning II at Luke Air Force Base On 6 November 2019 Norway declared initial operational capability IOC for its fleet of 15 F 35As out of a planned 52 F 35As 313 On 6 January 2022 Norway s F 35As replaced its F 16s for the NATO quick reaction alert mission in the high north 314 Netherlands Edit On 27 December 2021 the Netherlands declared initial operational capability IOC for its fleet of 24 F 35As that it has received to date from its order for 46 F 35As 315 In 2022 the Netherlands announced they will order an additional 6 F 35s totaling 52 aircraft ordered 316 Variants Edit The three main variants CTOL for conventional take off and landing STOVL for short take off and vertical landing and CV for carrier variant USAF F 35A in flight 2013 source source source source source source Video of a USMC F 35B conducting the first vertical landing aboard USS Wasp on 3 October 2011 F 35 variants flying in formation The F 35C left has a larger wing than other variants while the F 35B center has a shorter nozzle and no tailhook The F 35 was designed with three initial variants the F 35A a CTOL land based version the F 35B a STOVL version capable of use either on land or on aircraft carriers and the F 35C a CATOBAR carrier based version Since then there has been work on the design of nationally specific versions for Israel and Canada F 35A Edit The F 35A is the conventional takeoff and landing CTOL variant intended for the USAF and other air forces It is the smallest lightest version and capable of 9 g the highest of all variants Although the F 35A currently conducts aerial refueling via boom and receptacle method the aircraft can be modified for probe and drogue refueling if needed by the customer 317 318 A drag chute pod can be installed on the F 35A with the Royal Norwegian Air Force being the first operator to adopt it 319 F 35B Edit See also Joint Combat Aircraft The F 35B is the short takeoff and vertical landing STOVL variant of the aircraft Similar in size to the A variant the B sacrifices about a third of the A variant s fuel volume to accommodate the SDLF 320 321 This variant is limited to 7 g Unlike other variants the F 35B has no landing hook The STOVL HOOK control instead engages conversion between normal and vertical flight 322 323 The F 35B is capable of Mach 1 6 1 976 km h and can perform vertical and or short take off and landing V STOL 196 F 35C Edit The F 35C variant is designed for catapult assisted take off but arrested recovery operations from aircraft carriers Compared to the F 35A the F 35C features larger wings with foldable wingtip sections larger control surfaces for improved low speed control stronger landing gear for the stresses of carrier arrested landings a twin wheel nose gear and a stronger tailhook for use with carrier arrestor cables 228 The larger wing area allows for decreased landing speed while increasing both range and payload The F 35C is limited to 7 5 g 324 F 35I Adir Edit Main article Lockheed Martin F 35 Lightning II Israeli procurement The F 35I Adir Hebrew אדיר meaning Awesome 325 or Mighty One 326 is an F 35A with unique Israeli modifications The US initially refused to allow such changes before permitting Israel to integrate its own electronic warfare systems including sensors and countermeasures The main computer has a plug and play function for add on systems proposals include an external jamming pod and new Israeli air to air missiles and guided bombs in the internal weapon bays 327 328 A senior IAF official said that the F 35 s stealth may be partly overcome within 10 years despite a 30 to 40 year service life thus Israel s insistence on using their own electronic warfare systems 329 Israel Aerospace Industries IAI has considered a two seat F 35 concept an IAI executive noted There is a known demand for two seats not only from Israel but from other air forces 330 IAI plans to produce conformal fuel tanks 331 Proposed variants Edit CF 35 Edit Main article Lockheed Martin F 35 Lightning II Canadian procurement The Canadian CF 35 was a proposed variant that would differ from the F 35A through the addition of a drogue parachute and the potential inclusion of an F 35B C style refueling probe 319 332 In 2012 it was revealed that the CF 35 would employ the same boom refueling system as the F 35A 333 One alternative proposal would have been the adoption of the F 35C for its probe refueling and lower landing speed however the Parliamentary Budget Officer s report cited the F 35C s limited performance and payload as being too high a price to pay 334 Following the 2015 Federal Election the Liberal Party whose campaign had included a pledge to cancel the F 35 procurement 335 formed a new government and commenced an open competition to replace the existing CF 18 Hornet 336 The CF 35 variant was deemed too expensive to develop and was never considered The Canadian government decided to not pursue any other modifications in the Future Fighter Capability Project and instead focused on the potential procurement of the existing F 35A variant citation needed 337 It has been speculated however that the Royal Canadian Air Force RCAF would still include the drag chute pod as seen on RNoAF F 35As for shortened landing distances 338 On 28 March 2022 the Canadian Government began negotiations with Lockheed Martin for 88 F 35As 339 to replace the aging fleet of CF 18 fighters starting in 2025 340 The aircraft are reported to cost up to CA 19bn total with a life cycle cost estimated at CA 77bn over the course of the F 35 program 341 342 On 9 January 2023 Canada formally confirmed the purchase of 88 aircraft with an initial delivery of 16 aircraft to the RCAF in 2026 and the final batch in 2032 343 344 The additional characteristics confirmed for the CF 35 included the drag chute pod for landings at short icey arctic runways as well as the sidekick system which allows the CF 35 to carry up to 6 x AIM 120D missiles internally instead of the typical internal capacity of 4 x AIM 120 missiles on other variants 345 New export variant Edit In December 2021 it was reported that Lockheed Martin was developing a new variant for an unspecified foreign customer The Department of Defense released US 49 million in funding for this work 346 F 35D notional concept Edit The F 35D was used as a notional 2035 aircraft to illustrate a hypothetical scenario as part of a 2015 USAF study called the Future Operating Concept 347 348 Operators EditMain articles Lockheed Martin F 35 Lightning II operators and Lockheed Martin F 35 Lightning II procurement One of the RAAF s first two F 35As in December 2014 A Japan Air Self Defense Force F 35A in flight First four RAF F 35Bs on a delivery flight to RAF Marham June 2018 USN F 35C performs a touch and go landing aboard USS Abraham Lincoln AustraliaRoyal Australian Air Force 50 F 35A delivered as of July 2022 of 72 ordered 349 BelgiumBelgian Air Component 34 F 35A planned 350 351 CanadaRoyal Canadian Air Force 88 F 35As ordered in January 2023 352 353 DenmarkRoyal Danish Air Force 6 F 35A delivered of the 27 planned 354 355 356 FinlandFinnish Air Force F 35A Block 4 selected via the HX Fighter Program to replace the current F A 18 Hornets 357 358 with 64 F 35As on order 359 GermanyGerman Air Force 35 F 35A ordered 360 361 IsraelIsraeli Air Force 36 delivered as of November 2022 F 35I Adir 362 Includes one F 35 testbed aircraft for indigenous Israeli weapons electronics and structural upgrades designated AS 15 363 364 A total of 50 ordered 365 ItalyItalian Air Force 12 F 35As and 1 F 35B delivered as of 2020 366 with Italy planning to order 60 F 35As and 15 F 35Bs for the Italian Air Force 367 368 Italian Navy 2 had been delivered as of October 2020 with 15 F 35Bs planned for the Italian Navy 367 368 In 2022 Italy ordered 14 more F 35As and 4 F 35Bs 369 JapanJapan Air Self Defense Force 27 F 35As operational as of March 2022 with a total order of 147 including 105 F 35As and 42 F 35Bs 312 370 371 372 NetherlandsRoyal Netherlands Air Force 24 F 35As delivered and operational 315 out of 37 ordered 52 F 35As planned in total 373 374 375 NorwayRoyal Norwegian Air Force 31 F 35As delivered and operational of which 21 are in Norway and 10 are based in the US for training as of 11 August 2021 376 of 52 F 35As planned in total 377 They differ from other F 35A through the addition of a drogue parachute 378 PolandPolish Air Force 32 F 35As on order 379 Plans for two more squadrons consisting of 16 jets each for a total of 32 additional F 35s 380 South KoreaRepublic of Korea Air Force 40 F 35As ordered and delivered as of January 2022 381 with 20 more F 35As planned 382 383 384 Republic of Korea Navy about 20 F 35Bs planned 385 386 It has not yet been approved by South Korean parliament 387 SingaporeRepublic of Singapore Air Force four F 35Bs to be ordered with option to order eight more as of March 2019 388 The option to purchase eight more has been exercised as of 24 February 2023 389 SwitzerlandSwiss Air Force 36 F 35A ordered to replace the current F 5E F Tiger II and F A 18C D Hornet Deliveries will begin in 2027 and conclude in 2030 390 391 United KingdomRoyal Air Force and Royal Navy owned by the RAF but jointly operated 30 F 35Bs received 392 393 with 26 in the UK after the loss of one aircraft in November 2021 296 394 395 396 the other three are in the US where they are used for testing and training 397 42 24 FOC fighters and 18 training aircraft to be fast tracked by 2023 398 399 A total of 48 ordered as of 2021 a total of 138 were originally planned the expectation in 2021 was to eventually reach around 60 or 80 400 In 2022 it was announced that the UK would acquire 74 F 35s with a decision on whether or not to go beyond that number including the possibility of reviving the original plan of 138 aircraft to be made in the mid 2020s 401 United StatesUnited States Air Force 302 delivered 402 with 1 763 F 35As planned 373 403 United States Marine Corps 114 F 35B C delivered 404 with 353 F 35Bs and 67 F 35Cs planned 405 United States Navy 26 delivered 404 with 273 F 35Cs planned 405 Order and approval cancellations Edit TurkeyTurkish Air Force 30 were ordered 406 of up to 100 total planned 407 408 Future purchases have been banned by the U S with contracts canceled by early 2020 following Turkey s decision to buy the S 400 missile system from Russia 409 Six of Turkey s 30 ordered F 35As were completed as of 2019 they are still kept in a hangar in the United States as of 2023 410 411 and so far haven t been transferred to the USAF despite a modification in the 2020 Fiscal Year defense budget by the U S Congress which gives authority to do so if necessary 412 413 and two more were at the assembly line in 2020 412 413 The first four F 35As were delivered to Luke Air Force Base in 2018 414 and 2019 415 for the training of Turkish pilots 416 417 On July 20 2020 the U S government had formally approved the seizure of eight F 35As originally bound for Turkey and their transfer to the USAF together with a contract to modify them to USAF specifications 418 The U S has not refunded the 1 4 billion payment made by Turkey for purchasing the F 35A fighters as of January 2023 410 411 United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates Air Force Up to 50 F 35As planned 419 But on 27 January 2021 the Biden administration temporarily suspended the F 35 sales to the UAE 420 After pausing the bill to review the sale the Biden administration confirmed to move forward with the deal on 13 April 2021 421 In December 2021 UAE withdrew from purchasing F 35s as they did not agree to the additional terms of the transaction from the US 422 Accidents and notable incidents EditOn 23 June 2014 an F 35A s engine caught fire at Eglin AFB The pilot escaped unharmed while the aircraft sustained an estimated US 50 million in damage 423 424 The accident caused all flights to be halted on 3 July 425 The fleet returned to flight on 15 July with flight envelope restrictions 426 In June 2015 the USAF Air Education and Training Command AETC issued its official report which blamed the failure on the third stage rotor of the engine s fan module pieces of which cut through the fan case and upper fuselage Pratt amp Whitney applied an extended rub in to increase the gap between the second stator and the third rotor integral arm seal as well as design alterations to pre trench the stator by early 2016 423 On 28 September 2018 the first crash occurred involving a USMC F 35B near Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort South Carolina the pilot ejected safely 427 428 The crash was attributed to a faulty fuel tube all F 35s were grounded on 11 October pending a fleet wide inspection of the tubes 429 The next day most USAF and USN F 35s returned to flight status following the inspection 430 On 9 April 2019 a JASDF F 35A attached to Misawa Air Base disappeared from radar about 84 miles 135 km east of the Aomori Prefecture during a training mission over the Pacific Ocean The pilot Major Akinori Hosomi had radioed his intention to abort the drill before disappearing 431 432 The US and Japanese navies searched for the missing aircraft and pilot finding debris on the water that confirmed its crash Hosomi s remains were recovered in June 433 434 435 In response Japan grounded its 12 F 35As 436 432 There was speculation that China or Russia might attempt to salvage it the Japanese Defense Ministry announced there had been no reported activities from either country 432 The F 35 reportedly did not send a distress signal nor did the pilot attempt any recovery maneuvers as it descended at a rapid rate 431 437 The accident report attributed the cause to the pilot s spatial disorientation 438 On 19 May 2020 a USAF F 35A from the 58th Fighter Squadron crashed while landing at Eglin AFB The pilot ejected and was in stable condition 435 The accident was attributed to a combination of pilot error induced by fatigue a design issue with the oxygen system and the aircraft s more complex nature being distracting as well as a malfunctioning head mounted display and an unresponsive flight control system 439 On 29 September 2020 a USMC F 35B crashed in Imperial County California after colliding with a Marine Corps KC 130 during air to air refuelling The F 35B pilot was injured in the ejection and the KC 130 crash landed gear up in a field 440 On 12 March 2021 during a close air support weapons training night time flight near Marine Corps Air Station Yuma Arizona a round fired from the belly mounted gunpod on a F 35B a 25mm GAU A gatling gun detonated shortly after leaving the barrel of the gun This specific round fired was a PGU 32 B SAPHEI T semi armor piercing high explosive incendiary tracer which is designed to detonate after the round has penetrated the target s armor beginning a fuze delayed explosion and then spread the incendiary material These rounds are also equipped with graze detection meaning even with a slight grazing blow to a target they will explode and spread the incendiary substance The mishap was classified as a Class C meaning the damage incurred a cost of between 60 000 600 000 to repair and or a nonfatal injury forcing lost time from work for the remainder of the working day that the injury occurred The aircraft itself was grounded for maintenance for over three months but the pilot was uninjured The shrapnel from the round penetrated several parts of the aircraft requiring their replacement 441 On 17 November 2021 a Royal Air Force F 35B crashed during routine operations in the Mediterranean The pilot was safely recovered to HMS Queen Elizabeth 394 Early reports suggested some of the covers and engine blanks had not been removed before takeoff 442 443 The wreckage including all security sensitive equipment was largely recovered with the assistance of U S and Italian forces 444 On 4 January 2022 a South Korean Air Force F 35A made a belly landing after all systems failed except the flight controls and the engine The pilot heard a series of bangs during low altitude flight and various systems stopped working The control tower suggested that the pilot eject but he managed to land the plane without deploying the landing gear walking away uninjured 445 446 On 24 January 2022 a USN F 35C with VFA 147 suffered a ramp strike while landing on the USS Carl Vinson CVN 70 and was lost overboard in the South China Sea injuring seven crew members The pilot ejected safely and was recovered from the water On 2 March 2022 the aircraft was recovered from a depth of approximately 12 400 ft 3 780 m with the aid of a remotely operated vehicle ROV and DSCV Picasso a deep diving ship 447 On 19 October 2022 an F 35A crashed at the North end of the runway at Hill Air Force Base Utah The pilot safely ejected and was unharmed The cause of the crash is under investigation 448 On 15 December 2022 an F 35B crashed during a failed vertical landing at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth in Texas The pilot ejected on the ground and was not seriously injured The aircraft was undergoing production test flying by a government pilot and had not yet been delivered by the manufacturer to the US military 449 450 451 Specifications F 35A Edit F 35A three view drawing F 35B cutaway with lift fan Data from Lockheed Martin F 35 specifications 452 453 454 455 Lockheed Martin F 35 weaponry 456 Lockheed Martin F 35 Program Status 99 F 35 Program brief 148 FY2019 Select Acquisition Report SAR 324 Director of Operational Test amp Evaluation 457 General characteristicsCrew 1 Length 51 4 ft 15 7 m Wingspan 35 ft 11 m Height 14 4 ft 4 4 m Wing area 460 sq ft 43 m2 Aspect ratio 2 66 Empty weight 29 300 lb 13 290 kg Gross weight 49 540 lb 22 471 kg Max takeoff weight 65 918 lb 29 900 kg 458 Fuel capacity 18 250 lb 8 278 kg internal Powerplant 1 Pratt amp Whitney F135 PW 100 afterburning turbofan 28 000 lbf 125 kN thrust dry 43 000 lbf 191 kN with afterburnerPerformance Maximum speed Mach 1 6 at altitude Range 1 500 nmi 1 700 mi 2 800 km Combat range 669 nmi 770 mi 1 239 km on internal fuel 760 nmi 870 mi 1 410 km interdiction mission on internal fuel for internal air to air configuration 459 Service ceiling 50 000 ft 15 000 m g limits 9 0 Wing loading 107 7 lb sq ft 526 kg m2 at gross weight Thrust weight 0 87 at gross weight 1 07 at loaded weight with 50 internal fuel Armament Guns 1 25 mm 0 984 in GAU 22 A 4 barrel rotary cannon 180 rounds N 16 Hardpoints 4 internal stations 6 external stations on wings with a capacity of 5 700 pounds 2 600 kg internal 15 000 pounds 6 800 kg external 18 000 pounds 8 200 kg total weapons payload with provisions to carry combinations of Missiles Air to air missiles AIM 9X Sidewinder AIM 120 AMRAAM AIM 132 ASRAAM AIM 260 JATM To be integrated 460 MBDA Meteor Block 4 for F 35B 173 461 not before 2027 462 Air to surface missiles AGM 88G AARGM ER Block 4 AGM 158 JASSM 166 SPEAR 3 Block 4 in development integration contracted 160 461 Joint Air to Ground Missile JAGM Air to surface Anti ship missiles Joint Strike Missile JSM integration in progress 463 Anti ship missiles AGM 158C LRASM 464 being integrated Bombs Joint Direct Attack Munition JDAM series Paveway series laser guided bombs Precision guided glide bomb AGM 154 JSOW GBU 39 Small Diameter Bomb SDB GBU 53 B StormBreaker Small Diameter Bomb II B61 mod 12 nuclear bomb 465 being certified Avionics AN APG 81 AESA radar AN AAQ 40 E O Targeting System EOTS AN AAQ 37 Distributed Aperture System DAS missile warning system AN ASQ 239 Barracuda electronic warfare system AN ASQ 242 CNI suite which includes Harris Corporation Multifunction Advanced Data Link MADL communication system Link 16 data link SINCGARS An IFF interrogator and transponder HAVE QUICK AM VHF UHF AM and UHF FM Radio GUARD survival radio A radar altimeter An instrument landing system A TACAN system Instrument carrier landing system A JPALS TADIL J JVMF VMFDifferences between variants Edit F 35ACTOL F 35BSTOVL F 35CCVLength 51 4 ft 15 7 m 51 2 ft 15 6 m 51 5 ft 15 7 m Wingspan 35 ft 10 7 m 35 ft 10 7 m 43 ft 13 1 m Height 14 4 ft 4 39 m 14 3 ft 4 36 m 14 7 ft 4 48 m Wing Area 460 sq ft 42 74 m2 460 sq ft 42 74 m2 668 sq ft 62 06 m2 Empty weight 28 999 lb 13 154 kg 32 472 lb 14 729 kg 34 581 lb 15 686 kg Internal fuel 18 250 lb 8 278 kg 13 500 lb 6 123 kg 19 750 lb 8 958 kg Weapons payload 18 000 lb 8 160 kg 15 000 lb 6 800 kg 18 000 lb 8 160 kg Max takeoff weight 70 000 lb 31 800 kg class 60 000 lb 27 200 kg class 70 000 lb 31 800 kg classRange gt 1 200 nmi 2 200 km gt 900 nmi 1 700 km gt 1 200 nmi 2 200 km Combat radius oninternal fuel 669 nmi 1 239 km 505 nmi 935 km 670 nmi 1 241 km Thrust weight full fuel 50 fuel 0 871 07 0 901 04 0 750 91g limit 9 0 7 0 7 5Appearances in media EditMain article Aircraft in fiction F 35 Lightning IISee also Edit Aviation portalRelated development Lockheed Martin X 35 Concept demonstrator aircraft for Joint Strike Fighter programAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Chengdu J 20 Chinese fifth generation fighter aircraft HAL AMCA Indian fifth generation fighter under development by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited KAI KF 21 Boramae Advanced multirole fighter aircraft under development by South Korea and Indonesia Lockheed Martin F 22 Raptor American fifth generation air superiority fighter Shenyang FC 31 Fifth generation jet fighter under development by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation Sukhoi Su 57 Russian fifth generation fighter aircraft TAI TF X Turkish fifth generation fighter under development by Turkish Aerospace Industries Sukhoi Su 75 Checkmate Russian single engine fifth generation fighter under development by SukhoiRelated lists List of fighter aircraft List of active United States military aircraft List of megaprojects AerospaceNotes Edit By 2014 the program was US 163 billion over budget and seven years behind schedule 9 Lockheed acquired General Dynamics fighter division at Fort Worth in 1993 and merged with Martin Marietta in 1995 to form Lockheed Martin As these were concept demonstrator aircraft for risk reduction they did not need to have the internal structure or most subsystems of the final aircraft as a weapon system The F 35 swivel nozzle design was pioneered by the Convair Model 200 21 The thrust vectoring nozzle would eventually be replaced by an axisymmetric low observable nozzle to reduce weight FACO is also performed in Italy and Japan for some partner and export customers as part of the industrial benefits from international cooperation This first prototype lacked the weight optimization from SWAT Early F 35Bs have a service life as low as 2 100 hours before retrofits as seen on Lot 9 and later aircraft Turkey was the sole supplier of several F 35 parts thus forcing the program to find replacement vendors 83 The F 35C has additional ailerons at the folding sections of the wings In 2014 Michael Gilmore Director of Operational Test amp Evaluation stated that software development integration in the contractor labs and delivery of mature capability to flight test continued to be behind schedule 109 Rockwell Collins and Elbit Systems formed the joint venture Vision Systems International VSI later renamed Collins Elbit Vision Systems CEVS In 2002 solid state laser weapons were reportedly being developed for the F 35 178 179 180 Bubbling and blistering of the horizontal tails and tail booms were observed once during flutter tests of the F 35B and C in late 2011 according to the program office the problem has only occurred once despite numerous attempts to replicate it and an improved spray on coating has been implemented since as a mitigation measure On 17 December 2019 the Pentagon program office closed the issue with no further actions planned and instead is imposing a time limit on high speed flight for the F 35B and C to reduce the risk of damaging the stealth coatings and antennas located on the back of the aircraft 231 232 Wing drop is an uncommanded roll that can occur during high g transsonic maneuvering F 35B and F 35C have the cannon in an external pod with 220 rounds References Edit a b c d Drew James 31 July 2015 First operational F 35 squadron declared ready for combat FlightGlobal a b c Insinna Valerie 2 August 2016 Air Force Declares F 35A Ready for Combat Defense News a b c Eckstein Megan 28 February 2019 Navy Declares Initial Operational Capability for F 35C Joint Strike Fighter USNI News F 35 Fast Facts PDF F35 com Lockheed Martin Retrieved 1 March 2023 F 35 Global Partnerships Lockheed Martin Archived from the original on 2 September 2012 Retrieved 31 October 2012 Dudley Richard 5 March 2012 Program Partners Confirm Support for F 35 Joint Strike Fighter Defence Update a b Pawlyk Oriana 28 December 2020 Key US Ally Declares Its F 35s Ready for Combat Military com 10th paragraph Retrieved 29 December 2020 Boehm Eric 26 April 2022 The 1 7 Trillion F 35 Fighter Jet Program Is About To Get More Expensive reason com Reason Retrieved 27 April 2022 Drusch Andrea 16 February 2014 Fighter plane cost overruns detailed Politico Retrieved 29 September 2015 Miller Kathleen Capaccio Tony amp Ivory Danielle 22 February 2013 Flawed F 35 Too Big to Kill as Lockheed Hooks 45 States Bloomberg L P Ciralsky Adam 16 September 2013 Will the F 35 the U S Military s Flaw Filled Years Overdue Joint Strike Fighter Ever Actually Fly Vanity Fair Retrieved 29 September 2015 a b Ahronheim Anna 22 May 2018 IAF Commander Israel First To Use F 35 Jet In Combat The Jerusalem Post US European Command NATO May Have 450 F 35s by 2030 Aviation Today 14 June 2021 Drew James 25 March 2016 Lockheed F 35 service life extended to 2070 FlightGlobal Rich Stadler October 1994 Common Lightweight Fighter PDF Code One Magazine Lockheed Archived PDF from the original on 29 January 2020 a b History Pre JAST Joint Strike Fighter Archived from the original on 6 December 2019 Retrieved 24 January 2020 a b History JAST Joint Strike Fighter Archived from the original on 15 July 2019 Retrieved 24 January 2020 Barrie Douglas Norris Guy amp Warwick Graham 4 April 1995 Short take off low funding FlightGlobal Archived from the original on 17 July 2015 Retrieved 24 January 2020 a b The JSF UK Industry Team Martin Baker Aircraft Company Limited Archived from the original on 27 April 2006 US UK sign JAST agreement Aerospace Daily New York McGraw Hill 25 November 1995 p 451 Renshaw Kevin 12 August 2014 F 35B Lightning II Three Bearing Swivel Nozzle Code One Magazine Wilson George C 22 January 2002 The engine that could Government Executive Archived from the 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