Single-seat, single-engine, multi-role supersonic aircraft for electronic warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Three variants: F-35B - short takeoff/vertical landing, F-35C carrier and F-35A CTOL - designed to operate from conventional runways. Manufactured by Lockheed Martin in partnership with Northrop Grumman (centre fuselage) and BAE Systems (aft fuselage, vertical and horizontal tails).
Airframe is 35% composite and designed to enhance stealth with trapezoidal mid-wing configuration, twin tailfins and internal weapons bay. All-electric flying control systems direct the wing and tailplane leading edges, flaps, rudders and all-moving horizontal tails.
Advanced sensors and mission systems enhance pilot’s situational awareness and communications with AESA radar, EOTS targeting system, Distributed Aperture System (DAS), Helmet Mounted Display (HMD), and the Communications, Navigation and Identification (CNI) Avionics.
Single pilot facing touch screen panoramic main display with speech recognition technology in the glass cockpit. Pilot has a helmet-mounted display system (Vision Systems International) with display in visor of helmet.
Lift type | Fixed wing | Search for other aircraft programs with these properties on the Aircraft Programs directory page. |
Construction type | Factory-built | |
Control type | Piloted | |
Engine type | Turbofan | |
Application | Fighter | |
Final assembly | Air Force Plant 4 , Cameri Air Base , Nagoya |
Variant | Launch/First flight | Production end | |
Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II | 1996 / 2010 | Conventional carrier-based variant. | |
Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II | 1996 / 2008 | Short take-off and vertical landing variant. | |
Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II | 1996 / 2006 | Conventional land-based variant, including F-35I Adir for Israel. |
View full news archive for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.
See recent updates (latest 16/05/2022)
Ascent Aerospace North America (U.S.A.) | www.ascentaerospace.com |
Fastems Group (Finland) | www.fastems.com |
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company | News | |
Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation | News | Japan F-35 FACO operated by MHI with technical assistance from Lockheed Martin |
Other aircraft programs: Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules, Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon, Sikorsky S-70A Black Hawk, Sikorsky S-70B SeaHawk, Airbus A330, KAI T-50 Golden Eagle, Lockheed Martin X-56A, Lockheed Martin LMH-1, Mitsubishi X-2
Management | Professional Services (1) |
Design | Design (1) Design Software (3) |
Materials | Adhesives (1) Coatings (1) Composites (13) Metals (6) Non-metal Materials (3) |
Components | Active Electronic Components (4) Actuation (7) Bearings (1) Electrical Components (5) Electrical/Electronic Connectors (2) Fasteners (2) Fibre Optics (2) Lighting (2) Mechanical Components (18) Non-Mechanical Components (10) Passive Electronic Components (1) Sensors, Transducers & Detectors (5) Structural Components (31) Switches (1) Valves (6) Windows & Glass (1) |
Airframe Systems | Airframe Assemblies (35) Fluid Power (9) Landing Assemblies (11) Oxygen Systems & Equipment (1) Safety & Security Systems (6) Weapons Systems (16) |
Avionics | Avionic Components (5) Communications (Airborne) (7) Flight and Data Management (6) Imaging and Visual Systems (2) Indicators and Instruments (14) Navigation Aids (Airborne) (2) |
Power Systems | Batteries & Accessories (1) Electrical Power Systems (5) Engine Components (32) Engines (3) Fuel Systems (5) Power Transmission (3) Rotors & Propellers (1) |
Production | Computer Integrated Manufacturing (3) Handling Equipment (1) Inspection Equipment (2) Machining (5) Measurement (2) Processes (1) Production Control (1) Production Equipment (7) Surface Treatment (2) Technical Consultants (1) Tooling (10) Tools (4) |
Testing | Aircraft Operations (1) Computer-Aided Testing (3) Non-Destructive Testing (1) Test Equipment (9) Test Services (6) |