F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
by Staff EditorThe F-35 is a superior first-day-of-the-war weapon system that gives the pilot true multi-role, multi-mission capability. Workload is sharply reduced, allowing pilots to work as tacticians rather than weapon system managers. The JSF is a stealthy, supersonic, multirole fighter that will be produced in three variants to meet the needs of the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, as well as the U.K. Royal Air Force and Royal Navy. Plans call for more than 3,000 aircraft over the life of the program. The Joint Strike Fighter is designed to replace the A-10, the AV-8 Harrier, F-16 and the F/A-18 in U.S. service.
F-35A Specifications
| Manufacturer: | Lockheed Martin |
| First Flight: | anticipated 2006 |
| Wingspan: | 35 ft. (10.7 m) |
| Height: | 15 ft. (4.6 m) |
| Length: | 50 ft. (15.7 m) |
| Payload: | 13,000+ lbs. (5.900+ kg) |
| Thrust: | 40,000 lbs. (178 kN) w/ afterburner |
| Top Speed at Altitude: | Mach 1.6+ |
| Ceiling: | classified |
| Range: | 1,200+ nm (2,222+ km) |
| Crew: | One |
