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        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders   B-Roll of F-35A Lightning II. (U.S. Air Force)
                
                
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        The F-35 Lightning II makes its first appearance March 10, 2014, at Luke Air Force Base. The aircraft was flown in directly from the Lockheed Martin factor at Fort Worth, Tex., and is the first of 144 F-35s that will eventually be assigned to the base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Darlene Seltmann)The F-35 Lightning II makes its first appearance March 10, 2014, at Luke Air Force Base. The aircraft was flown in directly from the Lockheed Martin factory at Fort Worth, Texas, and is the first of 144 F-35s that will eventually be assigned to the base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Darlene Seltmann)
                
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        The Royal Netherlands air force F-35A Lightning II lifts off for its first flight Dec. 18, 2013, from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.  Maj. Laurens Vijge became the first RNLAF pilot to fly the joint strike fighter and the flight marks the first sortie for the RNLAF here.  (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)The Royal Netherlands air force F-35A Lightning II lifts off for its first flight Dec. 18, 2013, from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.  Maj. Laurens Vijge became the first RNLAF pilot to fly the joint strike fighter and the flight marks the first sortie for the RNLAF here.  (U.S. Air Force photo by Samuel King Jr.)
                
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        An Air Force F-35 Lightning II pilot prepares to refuel Dec. 12, 2013, at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The F-35 is a fifth-generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and advanced sustainment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Callaway)An Air Force F-35 Lightning II pilot prepares to refuel Dec. 12, 2013, at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The F-35 is a fifth-generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and advanced sustainment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Callaway)
                
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        F-35A Lighting II Flying with Tacoma Mountains on FlankAn F-35A Lightning II from the F-35A Demonstration Team flies over Tacoma, Wash., July 4, 2021. The demonstration team headlined both the Gig Harbor Wings-and-Wheels and the Tacoma Freedom Fair air shows for the Fourth of July weekend, showcasing the advanced capabilities of the F-35 to the Pacific Northwest. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jake Welty)
                
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 F-35A Lightning II**Mission**
The F-35A is the U.S. Air Force’s latest fifth-generation fighter. It will replace the U.S. Air Force’s aging fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcons and A-10 Thunderbolt II’s, which have been the primary fighter aircraft for more than 20 years, and bring with it an enhanced capability to survive in the advanced threat environment in which it was designed to operate. With its aerodynamic performance and advanced integrated avionics, the F-35A will provide next-generation stealth, enhanced situational awareness, and reduced vulnerability for the United States and allied nations.**Features**
The conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) F-35A gives the U.S. Air Force and its allies the power to dominate the skies – anytime, anywhere. The F-35A is an agile, versatile, high-performance, 9g capable multirole fighter that combines stealth, sensor fusion and unprecedented situational awareness.
The F-35A’s advanced sensor package is designed to gather, fuse and distribute more information than any fighter in history, giving operators a decisive advantage over all adversaries. Its processing power, open architecture, sophisticated sensors, information fusion and flexible communication links make the F-35 an indispensable tool in future homeland defense, Joint and Coalition irregular warfare and major combat operations.
Because logistics support accounts for two-thirds of an aircraft's life cycle cost, the F-35 is designed to achieve unprecedented levels of reliability and maintainability, combined with a highly responsive support and training system linked with the latest in information technology. The Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS) integrates current performance, operational parameters, current configuration, scheduled upgrades and maintenance, component history, predictive diagnostics (prognostics) and health management, operations scheduling, training, mission planning and service support for the F-35. Essentially, ALIS performs behind-the-scenes monitoring, maintenance and prognostics to support the aircraft and ensure continued health and enhance operational planning and execution.

F-35 Dazzles RenoMaj. Kristin Wolfe, F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team commander, performs an aerial maneuver during the Reno Air Races in Reno, Nev., Sept. 19, 2021. The demonstration team is based out of Hill Air Force Base, Utah. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Nicolas Myers)
            
            
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    Eielson Airmen practice ACE tactics during ‘surge’ weekAn F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 354th Fighter Wing takes off during an Agile Combat Employment exercise at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, July 13, 2021. ACE exercises ensure the 354th FW is able to deploy, disperse and maneuver combat capability to create dilemmas for near-peer adversaries. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jose Miguel T. Tamondong)
            
            
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    Skies the limit: aircraft refueling keeps the mission goingAn F-35A Lightning II and two F-16 Fighting Falcons, assigned to Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, fly above the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, July 28, 2021. The aircraft participated in air refueling with an Alaska Air National Guard KC-135R Stratotanker. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kaylee Dubois)
            
            
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The F-35’s electronic sensors include the Electro-Optical Distributed Aperture System (DAS). This system provides pilots with situational awareness in a sphere around the aircraft for enhanced missile warning, aircraft warning, and day/night pilot vision. Additionally, the aircraft is equipped with the Electro-Optical Targeting System. The internally mounted EOTS provides extended range detection and precision targeting against ground targets, plus long range detection of air-to-air threats.
The F-35’s helmet mounted display system is the most advanced system of its kind. All the intelligence and targeting information an F-35 pilot needs to complete the mission is displayed on the helmet’s visor.
The F-35 contains state-of-the-art tactical data links that provide the secure sharing of data among its flight members as well as other airborne, surface and ground-based platforms required to perform assigned missions. The commitment of JSF partner nations to common communications capabilities and web-enabled logistics support will enable a new level of Coalition interoperability. These capabilities allow the F-35 to lead the defense community in the migration to the net-centric war fighting force of the future.
The F-35’s engine produces 43,000 lbs of thrust and consists of a three-stage fan, a six-stage compressor, an annular combustor, a single-stage high-pressure turbine, and a two-stage low-pressure turbine.
The F-35 is designed to provide the pilot with unsurpassed situational awareness, positive target identification and precision strike in all weather conditions. Mission systems integration and outstanding over-the-nose visibility features are designed to dramatically enhance pilot performance.
With nine countries involved in its development (United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Denmark, Norway and Australia), the F-35 represents a new model of international cooperation, ensuring U.S. and Coalition partner security well into the 21st Century. The F-35 also brings together strategic international partnerships, providing affordability by reducing redundant research and development and providing access to technology around the world. Along these lines, the F-35 will employ a variety of US and allied weapons.

**Background**
The F-35 is designed to replace aging fighter inventories including U.S. Air Force F-16s and A-10s, U.S. Navy F/A-18s, U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harriers and F/A-18s, and U.K. Harrier GR.7s and Sea Harriers. With stealth and a host of next-generation technologies, the F-35 will be far and away the world’s most advanced multi-role fighter. There exists an aging fleet of tactical aircraft worldwide. The F-35 is intended to solve that problem.
On October 26, 2001, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Edward C. "Pete" Aldridge Jr. announced the decision to proceed with the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. This approval advanced the program to the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase. The Secretary of the Air Force James G. Roche announced the selection of Lockheed Martin teamed with Northrop Grumman and BAE to develop and then produce the JSF aircraft.
During this SDD phase, the program will focus on developing a family of strike aircraft that significantly reduces life-cycle cost while meeting operational requirements. The requirements represent a balanced approach to affordability, lethality, survivability and supportability. The program will use a phased block approach that addresses aircraft and weapons integration and provides a validated and verified air system for Initial Operational Capability requirements.**General Characteristics
Primary Function:** Multirole fighter**Prime Contractor:** Lockheed Martin**Power Plant:** One Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 turbofan engine**Thrust:** 43,000 pounds**Wingspan:** 35 feet (10.7 meters)**Length:** 51 feet (15.7 meters)**Height:** 14 feet (4.38 meters)**Maximum Takeoff Weight:** 70,000 pound class**Fuel Capacity: Internal:** 18,498 pounds**Payload:** 18,000 pounds (8,160 kilograms)**Speed:** Mach 1.6 (~1,200 mph)**Range:** More than 1,350 miles with internal fuel (1,200+ nautical miles), unlimited with aerial refueling**Ceiling:** Above 50,000 feet (15 kilometers)**Armament:** Internal and external capability. Munitions carried vary based on mission requirements.**Crew:** One**Point of Contact:**
Air Combat Command Public Affairs Office; 115 Thompson St., Ste 121, Langley AFB, Va. 23665-1987; 757-764-5471 or email at acc.pai@langley.af.mil.
 
(Current as of April 2014)F-35 



Lightning 



F-35A
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