Lockheed Martin’s F-35 lightning II is one of the world’s fifth-generation aircrafts currently operational in the Air Force of the U.S. and its NATO allies. The basic/conventional variant F-35A was introduced in the US Air Force back in 2012. The US government approved its sale to NATO allies to help them shore up their defence and deterrence capabilities against alleged threats from a resurgent Russian aggression in Eastern Europe and rising Chinese ambitions especially in the Indo-Pacific region. The F35 is in operation in various variants amongst Air Forces of European, Asian and Australasian countries. The United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Norway, Denmark, Canada, Israel, Singapore, Belgium, Finland, Japan, South Korea and Poland have either bought and inducted F35s or are awaiting deliveries. Hence, it is important to understand as to what makes this fighter jet highly desirable in the military realm which have made countries lined up to purchase it. Let's take a look at some of the key features of F-35 fighter jet:
1. Physical features: It is a single seater aircraft. The length of the jet is 51.4m, wingspan is 11m, height is 4.4m
2. Fuel capacity and payload: The empty weight of the F-35 is 13,290 kg. The maximum takeoff weight is 31,751 kg. The internal fuel capacity is 8278 kg. The combat range on this fuel is 1239 km.
3. Speed and Range: It has a maximum speed of Mach 1.6. It employs single-engine Pratt & Whitney F135 which is the most powerful fighter engine in the world (produces 191 KN of thrust). It is a supersonic fighter even with maximum payload capacity. Pic: ANI
4. Weapons Capability: The F-35 carries weapons in stealth configuration (internally). It carries weapons externally with greater that 6165 kg of ammunition in conducive environments.
5. Electronic warfare system: It employs advanced warfare capabilities to ascertain locations of enemy forces, jam the radars and preclude attacks. It also serves as an information bridge between ground, air and sea assets to share enemy’s operational information. Pic: BAE systems
6. Radar system: The F-35 employs AN/APG-81 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar system. It is a solid-state active electronically scanned array (semiconductor based).
7. Ammunition and armaments: It carries a 25 mm GAU-22/1 4-barrel rotary cannon. It employs air-to-air missiles such as AIM-120 AMRAAM (range 55-75 km), AIM-132 ASRAAM (range over 25 km) and MSDA Meteor (maximum range in 200 km). It also carries air-to-surface missiles such as AGM-88G AARGM-ER (range >111 km), SPEAR-3 (range 130 km) and AGM-158 JASSM (range 370 km).
8. Variants: There are three variants, F-35A, F-35B and F-35C. The US operates all the three variants. Italy, Japan and South Korea operate the F-35A and F-35B. Australia, Belgium, Denmark, The Netherlands, Norway and Poland operate the F-35A. The US operates the F-35B. Israel operates a region-specific F-35I. The features mentioned in this gallery are of the F-35A. Photo: U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Louis Vega Jr.
