Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II

The stealth multirole fighter built for joint international service.

F-35A Lightning II © Ronnie Macdonald

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Overview

Lockheed Martin United States ICAO: F35 2011–Present Active $115.5 million (2018)

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a fifth-generation stealth fighter introduced in the 2010s. Designed for multiple service branches, it incorporates advanced sensors and networked capability. The aircraft is produced in three primary variants.

Live Fleet Activity (F35)

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Specifications

Units
Engine
1 × Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100
Engine type
Turbofan
Thrust
43,000 lbf · 191 kN
Avionics
JSF Cooperative Avionics
Wing tips
No winglets
Seats
1
Crew
—
Cabin width
—
Cabin height
—
Cabin length
—
Exterior length
51 ft 6 in  ·  15.70 m
Tail height
14 ft 8 in  ·  4.48 m
Fuselage diameter
—
Wing span
35 ft 1 in  ·  10.70 m
Baggage volume
—
Gross weight
—
Empty weight
—
Max takeoff weight
70,000 lb  ·  31,800 kg
Max landing weight
—
Max payload
18,000 lb  ·  8,150 kg
Fuel capacity
2,750 gal · 10,400 L · 8,400 kg (Jet A)
Max cruise speed
1,043 kt  ·  1,200 mph  ·  1,932 km/h
Maximum speed
—
Cruise speed
—
Approach speed
250 kt  ·  288 mph  ·  463 km/h
Range
1,500 nm  ·  1,730 mi  ·  2,780 km
Fuel burn
0.94 nm/gal  ·  0.46 km/L
Ceiling
65,000 ft  ·  19,800 m
Rate of climb
40,000 ft/min  ·  203 m/s
Takeoff distance
550 ft  ·  170 m
Landing distance
700 ft  ·  210 m
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A pair of F-35Bs Lightning II jets of the Royal Air Force and USMC.

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Operational Context

Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II — fifth-generation multirole fighter

The F-35 first flew in 2006 and entered service in 2015. It was developed under the Joint Strike Fighter program to replace multiple legacy aircraft. The design emphasizes low observable shaping and sensor fusion.

A single Pratt & Whitney F135 turbofan engine producing approximately 43,000 pounds of thrust (191 kN) with afterburner powers the aircraft. Maximum speed exceeds Mach 1.6. Maximum takeoff weight exceeds 70,000 pounds (31,752 kg).

The F-35 is operated by numerous allied nations. It continues to receive software and hardware upgrades. The aircraft represents one of the most advanced fighter programs currently in production.