The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a fifth-generation, single-seat, single-engine, stealth-capable military strike fighter, a multirole aircraft that can perform close air support, tactical bombing, and air defense missions. The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II has three different models; one is the conventional takeoff and landing variant, the second is short takeoff and vertical-landing variant, and the third is a carrier-based variant. The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is descended from the X-35, the product of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. Its development is being principally funded by the United States, with the United Kingdom, and other partner governments providing additional funding. It is being designed and built by an aerospace industry team led by Lockheed Martin with Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems as major partners. Demonstrator aircraft flew in 2000, with the first flight on 15 December 2006.| F-35 Lightning II | |
|---|---|
| Role | Stealth multirole fighter |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin Aeronautics |
| First flight | 15 December 2006 |
| Introduction | 2016–2018 |
| Status | In initial production, in U.S. service as a training aircraft |
| Produced | 2006–present |
| Number built | 13 flight-test aircraft |
| Unit cost | F-35A: US$122 million (flyaway cost, 2011) F-35B: US$150M (avg. cost, 2011) F-35C: US$139.5M (avg. cost, 2011) Note: Average costs excludes development cost F-35A weapons system unit cost is US$183.5M (FY 2011) |
| Developed from | Lockheed Martin X-35 |
F-35 Lightning II Specifications
General characteristics- Crew: 1
- Length: A: 51.4 ft, B: 51.3 ft, C: 51.5 ft (A: 15.67 m, B: 15.6 m, C: 15.7 m)
- Wingspan: A/B: 35 ft, C: 43 ft (A/B: 10.7 m, C: 13.1 m)
- Height: A/B: 14.2 ft, C: 14.9 ft (A/B: 4.33 m, C: 4.54 m)
- Wing area: A/B: 460 ft², C: 668 ft² (A/B: 42.7 m², C: 62.1 m²)
- Empty weight: A: 29,300 lb, B: 32,000 lb, C: 34,800 lb (A: 13,300 kg, B: 14,500 kg, C: 15,800 kg)
- Loaded weight: 44,400 lb (20,100 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: A/C: 70,000 lb, B: 60,000 lb (A/C: 31,800 kg, B: 27,200 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Pratt & Whitney F135 afterburning turbofan
- Dry thrust: 25,000 lbf (111 kN)
- Thrust with afterburner: 40,000+ lbf (178+ kN)
- * Lift fan (STOVL): 1× Rolls-Royce LiftSystem driven from main power plant, 18,000 lbf (80 kN)
- Internal fuel: F-35A: 18,480 lb (8,382 kg); F-35B: 14,003 lb (6,352 kg); F-35C: 20,085 lb (9,110 kg)
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 1.6+ (1,200 mph, 1,931 km/h)
- Range: A: 1,200 nmi; B: 900 nmi; C: 1,400 nmi (A: 2,220 km; B: 1,670 km; C: 2,520 km) on internal fuel
- Combat radius: A: 610 nmi; B: 500 nmi; C: 640 nmi (A: 1,110 km; B: 910 km; C: 1,150 km) on internal fuel
- Service ceiling: A/B/C: 60,000 ft (18,288 m)
- Rate of climb: classified (not publicly available)
- Wing loading: 91.4 lb/ft² (446 kg/m²)
- Thrust/weight:
- g-Limits: F-35A: 9 g, F-35B: 7.5 g, F-35C: 7.5 g
Armament
- Guns: 1 × GAU-22/A 25 mm (0.984 in) cannon — slated to be mounted internally with 180 rounds in the F-35A and fitted as an external pod with 220 rounds in the F-35B and F-35C.
- Hardpoints: 6× external pylons on wings with a capacity of 15,000 lb (6,800 kg) and 2× internal bays with 2 pylons each.
- Missiles:
- Internal: 4 air-to-air missiles, or 2 air-to-air missiles and 2 air-to-ground weapons.
- External: 6 air-to-air missiles, or 4 air-to-ground weapons and 2 air-to-air missiles with combinations for the following missiles:
- Air-to-air missiles:
- AIM-120 AMRAAM
- AIM-132 ASRAAM
- AIM-9X Sidewinder
- Air-to-ground weapons:
- AGM-154 JSOW
- AGM-158 JASSM
- Bombs:
- Mark 84 general purpose bombs
- Mark 83 GP bombs
- Mark 82 GP bombs
- Mk.20 Rockeye II cluster bomb
- Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser capable
- Paveway-series laser-guided bombs
- Small Diameter Bomb (SDB)
- JDAM-series
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II appears to be a smaller, slightly more conventional, one-engine sibling of the sleeker, twin-engine F-22 Raptor, and indeed drew elements from it. The exhaust duct design was inspired by the General Dynamics Model 200, a 1972 VTOL aircraft designed for the Sea Control Ship. For specialized development of the F-35B STOVL variant, Lockheed consulted with the Yakovlev Design Bureau, purchasing design data from their development of the Yakovlev Yak-141 "Freestyle".
Some improvements over current-generation fighter aircraft are:
- Durable, low-maintenance stealth technology;
- Integrated avionics and sensor fusion that combine information from off- and onboard sensors to increase the pilot's situational awareness and improve identification and weapon delivery, and to relay information quickly to other command and control (C2) nodes;
- High speed data networking including IEEE 1394b and Fibre Channel.
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II features a full-panel-width "panoramic cockpit display (PCD)", with dimensions of 20 by 8 inches (50 by 20 centimeters). A cockpit speech-recognition system (Direct Voice Input) is planned to improve the pilot's ability to operate the aircraft over the current-generation. The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II will be the first U.S. operational fixed-wing aircraft to use this system, although similar systems have been used in AV-8B and trialled in previous U.S. jets, particularly the F-16 VISTA. In development the system has been integrated by Adacel Systems Inc with the speech recognition module supplied by SRI International.
A helmet mounted display system (HMDS) will be fitted to all models of the F-35. While some fourth-generation fighters (such as the Swedish JAS 39 Gripen) have offered HMDS along with a head up display (HUD), this will be the first time in several decades that a front-line tactical jet fighter has been designed to not carry a HUD.
The pilot flies the aircraft by means of a right-hand side-stick and left-hand throttle.
The Martin-Baker US16E ejection seat is used in all F-35 variants. The US16E seat design balances major performance requirements, including safe terrain clearance limits, pilot load limits, and pilot size. It uses a twin-catapult system that is housed in side-rails.
F-35 Lightning II Sensors
The main sensor on board the F-35 is its AN/APG-81 AESA-radar, designed by Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems. It is augmented by the Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) mounted under the nose of the aircraft, designed by Lockheed Martin. Six additional passive infrared sensors are distributed over the aircraft as part of Northrop Grumman's AN/AAQ-37 distributed aperture system (DAS), which acts as a missile warning system, reports missile launch locations, detects and tracks approaching aircraft spherically around the F-35, and replaces traditional night vision goggles for night operations and navigation. All DAS functions are performed simultaneously, in every direction, at all times. The F-35's Electronic Warfare systems are designed by BAE and include Northrop Grumman components. The communications, navigation and identification (CNI) suite is designed by Northrop Grumman and includes the Multifunction Advanced Data Link.
F-35 Lightning II Engines
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II main engine is the Pratt & Whitney F135. The General Electric/Rolls-Royce F136 is being developed as an alternate engine. The STOVL versions of both powerplants use the Rolls-Royce LiftSystem, patented by Lockheed Martin and built by Rolls-Royce. This system is more like the Russian Yak-141 and German VJ 101D/E than the preceding generation of STOVL designs, such as the Harrier Jump Jet.
The LiftSystem is composed of a lift fan, driveshaft, clutch, 2 roll posts and a "3 Bearing Swivel Module" (3BSM). The 3BSM is a thrust vectoring nozzle which allows the main engine exhaust to be deflected downward at the tail of the aircraft. The lift fan near the front of the aircraft provides a counter-balancing thrust. Somewhat like a vertically mounted turboprop within the forward fuselage, the lift fan is powered by the engine's low-pressure (LP) turbine via a driveshaft and gearbox. Roll control during slow flight is achieved by diverting pressurized air from the LP turbine through wing mounted thrust nozzles called Roll Posts.
The F-35B lift fan achieves the same 'flow multiplier' effect as the Harrier's huge, but supersonically impractical, main fan. Like lift engines, this added machinery is just deadweight during horizontal flight but provides a net increase in payload capacity during vertical flight. The cool exhaust of the fan also reduces the amount of hot, high-velocity air that is projected downward during vertical takeoff (which can damage runways and aircraft carrier decks). Though complicated and potentially risky, the lift system has been made to work to the satisfaction of DOD officials.
F-35 Lightning II Armament
The F-35 includes a GAU-22/A four-barrel 25 mm cannon. The cannon will be mounted internally with 180 rounds in the F-35A and fitted as an external pod with 220 rounds in the F-35B and F-35C.
Internally (current planned weapons for integration), up to two air-to-air missiles and two air-to-ground weapons (up to two 2,000 lb bombs in A and C models; two 1,000 lb bombs in the B model) in the bomb bays. These could be AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-132 ASRAAM, the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) — up to 2,000 lb (910 kg), the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW), Small Diameter Bombs (SDB) — a maximum of four in each bay, the Brimstone anti-armor missiles, and Cluster Munitions (WCMD). The MBDA Meteor air-to-air missile is currently being adapted to fit internally in the missile spots and may be integrated into the F-35. The UK had originally planned to put up to four AIM-132 ASRAAM internally but this has been changed to carry 2 internal and 2 external ASRAAMs. It has also been stated by a Lockheed executive that the internal bay will eventually be modified to accept up to 6 AMRAAMs.
At the expense of being more detectable by radar, many more missiles, bombs and fuel tanks can be attached on four wing pylons and two wingtip positions. The two wingtip pylons can only carry AIM-9X Sidewinders, while the AIM-120 AMRAAM, Storm Shadow, Joint Air to Surface Stand-off Missile (JASSM) cruise missiles and 480 gallon fuel tanks can be carried in addition to the stores already integrated. An air-to-air load of eight AIM-120s and two AIM-9s is conceivable using internal and external weapons stations, as well as a configuration of six two thousand pound bombs, two AIM-120s and two AIM-9s. With its payload capability, the F-35 can carry more air to air and air to ground weapons than legacy fighters it is to replace as well as the F-22 Raptor.
Concerns over performance
Concerns about the F-35's performance have resulted partially from reports of RAND simulations where numerous Russian Sukhoi fighters defeat a handful of F-35s by denying tanker refueling. As a result of these issues the then-Australian defence minister, Joel Fitzgibbon, requested a formal briefing from the Department of Defence (Australia) on the computer simulation. This briefing stated that the reports of the simulation were inaccurate, and that it did not compare the F-35's performance against that of other aircraft.
The criticism of the F-35 has been dismissed by the Pentagon and manufacturer. The USAF has conducted an analysis of the F-35's air-to-air performance against all 4th generation fighter aircraft currently available, and has found the F-35 to be at least four times more effective. Maj Gen Charles R. Davis, USAF, the F-35 program executive officer, has stated that the "F-35 enjoys a significant Combat Loss Exchange Ratio advantage over the current and future air-to-air threats, to include Sukhois". The Russian, Indian, Chinese, and other air forces operate Sukhoi Su-27/30 fighters.
Unlike the F-22, the F-35 will have the helmet mounted cueing system which is already in service with the F-15s, F-16s and F/A-18s, the AN/AAQ-37 Electro Optical Distributed Aperture System that renders maneuverability irrelevant, and improved data processors.
Lockheed Martin claims the F-35 will have turning agility/ability of up to 9 g's and provide close-in or long-range air-to-air combat capability second only to the F-22 Raptor, and superior to all other fighters.
Manufacturing responsibilities
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics is the prime contractor and performs aircraft final assembly, overall system integration, mission system, and provides forward fuselage, wings and flight controls system. Northrop Grumman provides Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, Infrared Distributed Aperture System (DAS), Communications, Navigation, Identification (CNI), center fuselage, weapons bay, and arrestor gear. BAE Systems provides aft fuselage and empennages, horizontal and vertical tails, crew life support and escape systems, Electronic warfare systems, fuel system, and Flight Control Software (FCS1). Alenia will perform final assembly for Italy and, according to an Alenia executive, assembly of all European aircraft with the exception of Turkey and the United Kingdom.
