The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is an American family of single-seat, single-engine, all-weather stealth multirole combat aircraft that is intended to perform both air superiority and strike missions. It is also able to provide electronic warfare and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. Lockheed Martin is the prime F-35 contractor, with principal partners Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. The aircraft has three main variants: the conventional takeoff and landing F-35A (CTOL), the short take-off and vertical-landing F-35B (STOVL), and the carrier-based F-35C (CV/CATOBAR).
The F-35A is the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant intended for the USAF and other air forces. It is the smallest, lightest version and capable of 9 g, the highest of all variants.
📑 ➖➖➖ The Australian Government announced its selection of the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) F-35A Lightning II to replace its classic Hornet fighter fleet in 2009, building on a more than 50-year partnership between the RAAF and Lockheed Martin.
Every F-35 built contains parts and components manufactured in Australia - local companies are realizing the industrial benefits of the program.
By operating the same aircraft as allies in the Asia-Pacific and around the world, the RAAF will take advantage of the F-35’s powerful sensors to share data to an unprecedented level of interoperability. The global fleet of F-35s will also give Australia advantages in economies of scale on the production and sustainment of more than 3,000 F-35s for decades to come. As a program partner, Australian businesses have the opportunity to supply components for production and sustainment of the entire F-35 fleet, not just Australian aircraft. Every F-35 built will contain some Australian parts and components.
▪️🇺🇸 Manufacturer Lockheed Martin
▪️Role Fifth generation, multi-role fighter
▪️👤 Crew Pilot
▪️⚙️ Engines Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100
▪️📏 Airframe Length: 15.7 m, height: 4.4 m
▪️↔️ Wingspan 10.7 m
▪️Wing Area 42.7m2
▪️⬇️ Weight 13,290 kg (empty), 29,900 kg (max)
▪️🛢 Range 2,200 km
▪️🛢 Combat radius (internal fuel) 1093 km
▪️🛢 Internal Fuel Capacity 8278 kg
▪️⬆️ Ceiling 50,000 feet
▪️⏭ Max Speed 1,960 km/h (Mach 1.6)
▪️⏩ Thrust 40,000 lb Maximum power (with afterburner), 25,000 lb Military Power (without afterburner)
▪️⏫ Max G-rating 9.0
▪️✅ Capability
Low Observation Stealth
Advanced sensors
Networking and Data Fusion Capabilities
Helmet Mounted Sight
▪️⚔️ Weapons
AIM-120C Air-to-Air Missile
AIM-9X "Sidewinder" Short Range Air-to-Air Missile
GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) Guided Bombs
Laser-Guided Bombs
Internal 25 mm GAU-22/A Cannon
▪️⤵️ Weapon Payload 8160 kg
Ref: Wikipedia; f35; airforce.gov.au