F-35 Lightning II
Maiden Flight: Friday, December 15, 2006
IOC: 2012
Total Production: 2,704
Production Cost: USD$299 billion
F-35C Lightning II
Maiden Flight: 2009
Production: 340
Unitary Cost: USD$122 million
Also Known As
F-35 CV
Origin
United States of America
Program Status:
Under Development
Contractor/s
Lockheed Martin
Applications
CVN 78 Gerald R. Ford
Queen Elizabeth
Family Members
F-35A Lightning II
F-35B Lightning II
Guided Missiles:
JSM
Power plant:
F135 CTOL/CV
F136
Sensors & Communications:
AN/APG-81
EO DAS
EOTS
F-35 CNI
Guns & Missile Launchers:
GAU-12/U
Protection Systems:
F-35 EW
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Description:
The F-35B is being developed to replace current F/A-18A/B/C/D aboard the US Navy aircraft carriers. Its maneuverability characteristics are similar to those of the F-16, and its stealthy airframe gives the first-look, first-shoot capability to the F-35 fighter. The first-look, first-shoot seems to be the cornerstone of air-to-air engagements of the 21st century as it did the maneuverability during the second half of the 20th century.
Due to stealthy restrictions, the F-35 carries the weaponry in a single inner bay and not externally attached to hard points and additionally that reduces the drag providing a better aerodynamic performance. Less drag also means increased range and higher sustained speed.
The F-35 will feature the fully integrated, nose-mounted EOTS providing day, night and all weather air-to-air/surface targeting, situational awareness, and target recognition. The EOTS advanced sensor will assume the functions of current LANTIRN, LITENING, and Sniper XR systems with the asset to be useful for air-to-air engagements using its IR search and track capability.
The F-35 main sensor, its radar, has not been determined yet, but an active electronically scanned array (AESA) seems to be likely.
The F-35 primary role is the surface attack with a secondary air-to-air capability. The F-35 concept is flexible enough to achieve any mission.
The F-35C aircraft has larger wings and tail control surfaces for low-speed aircraft carrier operations. It is also strengthened to handle the loads associated with catapult launch and arrested landing. A refueling probe on the right side of the forward fuselage has been provided to the F-35C.
One key element of the F-35 JSF program is to reduce the aircraft's logistics support needs with less than half the people, parts and equipment to deploy rapidly anywhere in the world. The program also will focus on minimizing the reliance on aerial refueling aircraft. For fourth generation aircraft operation-and-support costs meant more than 60 percent of aircraft's total ownership costs. JSF will amend that figure by 20 - 30 percent. This will be done primarily through built-in Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) capabilities will monitor the status of aircraft systems and automatically transmit the information to maintainers on the ground. PHM will enable technicians to meet the aircraft with all necessary tools, people and parts to conduct the maintenance and get the plane airborne again quickly.
As of 2005 the United States and the partner countries the United Kingdom, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, Turkey, Australia, Denmark, and Norway are involved in the F-35 program. Israel and Singapore are security cooperative participants. The partner countries are expected to sign orders for 500 to 600 F-35s in late 2006. Low rate initial production of operational F-35 is expected to commence in 2007.
On 7 July 2006, the US Air Force chief of staff - General T. Michael Moseley - announced Lightning II as the F-35 name. The P-38 was the first aircraft named Lightning. P-38 was also a strike fighter and played an important role during World War II.
Specifications
Accommodation: Crew 1
Dimensions: Length 15.4 m, Wingspan 10.7 m
Weights: Payload 907 kg (2,000 lb)
Engine/s Performance: Thrust 40,000 lb (18,144 kg)
Other: Number of Engines 1
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United States of America / 340 /