BAESYSTEMS.com

Aircraft Facts

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) will be the world’s most advanced multi-role, stealthy, supersonic fighter.

Affordability is the cornerstone of the F-35 program. It is achieved in large part through a very high level of common parts and systems across the three versions of the aircraft. Support costs are forecast to be about half that of present-day fighters, and streamlined assembly methods will cut production time significantly.

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is being developed for the US Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, as well as the UK’s Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, to replace the A-10, the AV-8 Harrier, F-16 and the F/A-18 in current service with the two nations.

F-35 Capability

The single-engine F-35 JSF has a low-observable design, giving greater stealth, and will be manufactured in three variants:

- a conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) aircraft for the US Air Force, which features a larger internal weapons bay and greater internal fuel capacity than the aircraft it will replace;

- a short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) variant for the US Marine Corps and the UK, which features a shaft-driven lift fan propulsion system that multiplies vertical thrust, enhancing short takeoff and landing performance without any compromise to the fighter ability of the aircraft;

- a carrier takeoff and landing (CV) aircraft, for the US Navy, which has increased internal fuel capacity for greater combat striking range. Larger wing and tail surfaces enable superior, carrier-suitable handling qualities.

The F-35 has been designed to have:

F-16/F/A-18 “Like” Performance
Increased Range with Internal Fuel and Weapons
Advanced Avionics and Data Links
Stealth Signature and Advanced Countermeasures
Less Support, Smaller Footprint

Aircraft Details:

Details	CTOL	STOVL	CV
Length	51.1ft	51.1ft	51.4ft
Span	35ft	35ft	43ft
Wing Area	460ft²	460ft²	668ft²
Internal Fuel	18.073lb	13,888lb	19,570lb

JSF Concept Demonstration Phase:

The Lockheed Martin JSF Team built two Concept Demonstrator aircraft, designated X-35. The first, the X-35A, was used to demonstrate the CTOL variant. The testing of X-35A was completed with all objectives achieved. The X-35A was then modified to the X-35B, the STOVL variant, which was used to test the unique shaft-driven lift-fan propulsion system in the spring and summer of 2001. The second Concept Demonstrator aircraft, the X-35C, was developed to demonstrate the carrier suitability qualities of the CV variant.

Flight testing of the Team Lockheed Martin X-35 began on October 24, 2000. All three versions, the X-35A, X-35B and X-35C, flew an intensive programme of flight testing between October 2000 and June 2001, which established an unprecedented string of flight-test records, completing 134.3 flight test hours and 166 flights. The rigorous flight testing programme maintained an extraordinarily high level of reliability throughout the testing period with all requirements and objectives achieved or exceeded.

Team Lockheed Martin X-35 Benchmarks:

• X-35A (CTOL) - Most flights (27), most flight hours (27.4), most pilots checked out (6).

• X-35B (STOVL) - First aircraft in history to achieve a short takeoff, level supersonic dash and vertical landing in a single flight.

• X-35C (CV) - 252 field carrier landing practice (FCLP) tests; First Concept Demonstrator, or X-plane, in history to complete a coast-to-coast flight (Edwards Air Force Base, California, to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland.)

Rendering of two F-35 aircraft in flight.

Page 1 2 3 4

Prev Next