Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
F-35 Lightening - Joint Strike Fighter
The F-35 is a single seat, single engine, supersonic, stealth aircraft developed by Lockheed Martin. The aircraft is capable of conventional as well as Short Take-off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) enabling it to operate from anywhere regardless of long runways. The aircraft is equipped with most modern Electro-Optical sensor suite, radar, electronic warfare suite and stealth capabilities enabling it to fly vast variety of missions including Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD), long range interdiction and deep strike missions without being detected.
F-35 Lightning II: Technical Specification
F-35 Technical Specification
| F-35A Lightning II | F-35B Lightning II | F-35C Lightning II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 51.4 ft/15.7 m | 51.2 ft/15.6 m | 51.5 ft/15.7 m |
| Height | 14.4 ft/4.38 m | 14.3 ft/4.36 m | 14.7 ft/4.48 m |
| Wingspan | 35 ft/10.7 m | 35 ft/10.7 m | 43 ft/13.1 m |
| Wing Area | 460 ft2/42.7 m2 | 460 ft2/42.7 m2 | 668 ft2/62.1 m2 |
| Horizontal Tail Span | 22.5 ft/6.86 m | 21.8 ft/6.65 m | 26.3 ft/8.02 m |
| Weight Empty | 29,300 lbs | 32,300 lb | 34,800 lb |
| Internal Fuel Capacity | 18,250 lbs/8,278 kg | 13,500 lb/6,125 kg | 19,750 lb/8,960 kg |
| Weapons Payload | 18,000 lbs/8,160 kg | 15,000 lb/6,800 kg | 18,000 lb/8,160 kg |
| Standard Internal Weapons Load | 25 mm GAU-22/A cannon, 2 AIM-120C/D, 2 GBU-31 (2,000 lb) | 2 AIM-120C/D, 2 GBU-32 (1,000 lb) | 2 AIM-120C/D, 2 GBU-31 (2,000 lb) |
| Maximum Weight | 70,000 lb class | 60,000 lb class | 70,000 lb class |
| Propulsion | F135-PW-100 | F135-PW-600 | F135-PW-100 |
| Max Thrust | 40,000 lb | 40,000 lb | 40,000 lb |
| Military Thrust | 25,000 lb | 25,000 lb | 25,000 lb |
| Vertical Thrust | N/A | 40,500 lb | N/A |
| Speed (Full Internal Weapons Load) | Mach 1.6 (∼1,200 mph) | Mach 1.6 (∼1,200 mph) | Mach 1.6 (∼1,200 mph) |
| Combat Radius (Internal Fuel) | >590 nm/1,093 km (USAF profile) | >450 nm/833 km (USMC profile) | >600 nm/1,100 km (USN profile) |
| Range (Internal Fuel) | >1,200 nm/2,200 km (USAF profile) | >900 nm/1,667 km (USMC profile) | >1,200 nm/2,200 km (USAF profile) |
| Max G-Rating | 9 | 7 | 7.5 |
F-35 Lightning II: Integrated Sensor and Avionics Suite
AN/APG-81 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar
AN/AAQ-40 Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS)
AN/AAQ-37 Distributed Aperture System (DAS)
AN/ASQ-239 Barracuda Electronic Warfare (EW) System
Communications, Navigation, and Identification (CNI) Suite
Helmet-Mounted Display System (HMDS)
Lockheed Martin F-35 Operators
Australia
Royal Australian Air Force operates 72 F-35 aircrafts. The aircrafts are mainly based at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales operates 3 squadrons.
No. 2 OCU
No. 3 Squadron
No. 77 Squadron
RAAF Base Tindal, Norther Territory operates No. 75 squadron.
Belgium
Belgian Air component has planned 34 F-35 aircrafts. These aircraft will be operated from Florennes Air base with 2nd Tactical Wind and Kleine Brogel Air Base with 10th Tactical wing.
Canada
The Royal Canadian Air Force has ordered 88 F-35 aircraft in January 2023 with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2026. The royal Canadian Air Force has planned to achieve Full Operational Capability (FOC) by 2032 to 2034.
Denmark
Royal Danish Air Force has received 17 F-35 aircraft out of 27 ordered. A training program was started to train Danish pilots in 2021. Royal Danish Air Force is expecting full operational capability by 2027.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic had signed an MoU for the purchase of F-35A aircraft, munitions and related equipment at a cost of 5.62 billion US dollars on 29 January 2024.
Finland
Finland Air Force had ordered a total of 64 F-35 aircraft.
Germany
German Air Force ordered 35 F-35 aircraft.
Greece
The Hellenic Air Force had ordered 20 F-35 aircraft with an option to buy 20 more.
Italy
Italian Air Force have 25 operation F-35s out of 75.
Japan
Japanese Air Self Defense Force have 40 operation F-35s. Mitsubishi is building 41 F-35As out of total 105 ordered. Japan operates F-35As from Misawa Air Base with 301 and 302 squadrons.
Netherlands
Royal Netherlands Air Force operations 46 F35 aircraft out of total 52 ordered. The Royal Netherlands Air Force has ordered additional F-35. Netherlands was the second country to receive F-35 aircraft. The Netherlands Air Force achieved F-35 Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in 2021 and Full Operational Capability (FOC) was in 2024. The Royal Netherlands Air Force have ordered six additional F-35 aircraft in 2024.
Norway
Royal Norwegian Air Force operates a total of 52 F-35 aircraft.
Poland
The Polish air force ordered 32 F-35A aircraft with deliveries expected to begin in 2026. As of 2025, pilot training is being conducted in United States.
Romania
Romanian Air Force ordered 32 F-35 aircraft on 21 November 2024 with plans to buy 16 additional F-35s making the total order of 48 aircraft. The F-35s will replace existing fleet of F-16s between 2034 – 20240.
Singapore
Singapore ordered 8 F-35 aircraft in 2024 with deliveries expected to begin in 2030.
South Korea
Republic of Korea Air Force operation 39 F-35 aircraft with total 60 aircraft ordered.
Switzerland
Swiss Air Force placed and order of 36 F-35s to replace it’s aging fleet of F-5E/F and F/A18 C/D fighter aircraft. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2027.
United Kingdom
United Kingdom is one of the original partners and a major supplier of key components in global F-35 production program. Major UK partner companies include BAE Systems, Martin Baker and Rolls Royce which provide major components of the F-35 aircraft to global operators. The Royal Air Force ordered record number of 138 F-35B aircraft worth 45.2 billion pounds. The royal Air Force received first F-35 in 2012. Royal Navy began flight trials on HMS Queen Elizabeth in 2018. The first F-35 arrived on HMS Queen Elizabeth in 2020 marking a major milestone in F-35 induction. In 2025, the UK has announced to procure F-35As as well.
United States
United States Air Force is the largest F-35 operator in the world. The USAF plans to purchase a total of 1763 F-35 aircraft with conventional take off and landing capability. United Stated Air force achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in August 2016.
United States Marine Corpse operates F-35B aircraft capable of Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing (STOVL) with a total 353 F-35Bs and 67 F-35C (Carrier Variant) aircraft. The F-35B achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in July 2015. US Navy operates F-35B aircraft aboard USS George Washington (CVN-73), USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) and USS Car Vinson (CVN-70). In the future, the F-35B will also operate from Ford-class aircraft carriers. The Ford class carriers will use EMALS (Electro Magnetic Launch System) to launch the F-35 enabling quick launch and recovery. USMC also operates F-35B from amphibious assault ships.
Israel
Israeli Air Force currently operates 42 with a total of 75 aircraft ordered.
Morocco
Royal Moroccan Air Force is finalizing a deal to buy 32 F-35 air craft from United States. The deal will mark Morocco as the first Arab and African country to acquire the 5th generation aircraft. The deal worth 17 billion US dollars is part of Morocco’s modernization plan.
Spain
In 2023, the Spanish government planned to retire it’s fleet of AV-8B Harrier aircraft and replace it with F-35B and F/A-18 Hornet fleet with F-35A aircraft. In 2025, however, the government decided to procure Euro fighter Typhoon aircraft.
Thailand
Royal Thai Air Force had planned to replace aging fleet for F-16A/B block 15 aircraft with F-35 in 2022. However, on 22 May 2023, the US DoD rejected the bid by Thailand to buy F-35 and offered F-16V and F-15EX Eagle fighters. US denied the sales of F-35 to Thailand on the basis of technical requirements citing that Thailand lacks the required infrastructure such as maintenance capabilities and base security to procure the F-35 aircraft.
Turkey
Turkey had planned to acquire a total of 100 F-35 aircraft but the contract was cancelled in 2020 by US. The cancellation was a direct response to Turkey’s decision to buy S-400 Air Defense System. 4 F-35A were delivered but were withheld at Luke Air Force Base. As of 2025, the Turkey’s main defense agency is sanctioned under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
F-35 Latest News
Tue Sep 30 2025
Lockheed Martin has finalized contract to add nearly 300 F-35 aircrafts for US services and international parteners under Foreign Military Sales program
July 30, 2025
F-35C of US Navy crashed near Naval Air Station Lemoore in California. The aircraft was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 125. Pilot ejected safely.
Jun 27 2025
UK decides to purchase 12 new F-35A aircrafts capable of carrying both convention and nuclear weapons. UK intends to deploy these jets as part of NATO’s dual nuclear capable aircraft missions.
April 09, 2025
Lockheed Martin team at Marietta site has delivered 1000th F-35 Center Wing Assembly (CWA) marking a major milestone in F-35 program. The Center Wind Assembly (CWA) is the single largest component of F-35 aircraft.
March 04, 2025
As part of AGM-158 strike systems flight sciences test program, an initial test flight was completed integrating Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) withF-35B Lightening II at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. The LRASM was carried externally marking a step closer towards enhancing deep strike capabilities against heavily protected strategic targets.
Jan 28, 2025
F-35A of US Air Force crashed at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. Lockheed Martin team and the crashed aircraft (tail number 19-5535) spent 50 minutes to resolve the issue which occurred soon after take-off. Initial investigation revealed the freezing and rupturing of hydraulic lines due to -18C temperature. Pilot ejected safely.
