The F-35 Lightning II is a multirole, stealthy, penetrating, all-weather fighter/attack family of tactical aircraft developed under the multinational Joint Strike Fighter program.
USAF’s conventional F-35A is complemented by the F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) version for USMC, and the carrier-capable F-35C for the Navy and USMC. The X-35 demonstrator first flew on Oct. 24, 2000, winning the go-ahead for the F-35A which first flew in developmental form in 2006.
Lightning II is replacing the A-10 and some F-16s, offering better penetrating capability against advanced A2/AD threats to strike heavily defended targets. USAF’s F-35A can carry up to 22,000 lb of weapons on 10 stations: two internal bays for stealth, and/or six wing and fuselage pylons for max loadout.
Air Force F-35s first saw combat on April 30, 2019, during Inherent Resolve.
The current fleet-standard Block 3F software gives the F-35A full combat capability with an array of precision guided weapons across mission sets including interdiction, basic CAS, and limited SEAD. Continuous Capability Development and Delivery (C2D2) will provide ongoing development and modernization. The next Block 4 iteration will give the F-35A a new maritime strike role and add weapons including the nuclear B61-12, developmental Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW), and SDB II, as well as APG-85 radar and EW improvements. Block 4 also corrects deficiencies discovered in concurrent development/testing and is scheduled to begin deliveries in mid-2025, three years behind schedule.
The Lot 15 through 17 production deal reached in December 2022 will include the first Tech Refresh 3 (TR-3) aircraft specifically equipped to support Block 4 retrofit. The program office and Lockheed Martin tentatively agreed on pricing for Lot 18 production through FY27 in late 2024. The F-35A requires increased engine performance to fully exploit Block 4. Both GE and Pratt & Whitney tested prototype engines that offered as much a 30 percent range increase, but USAF opted for an Engine Core Upgrade to the current power plant instead on cost and variantinteroperability grounds.
The F-35A was approved for full rate production on March 12, 2024, following completion of initial operational and live-fire testing, unlocking future cost-saving multiyear block buys. The Joint Program Office lifted a yearlong pause accepting delivery of “truncated” TR-3 software configured jets in July 2024. The service had accumulated a backlog of more than 30 jets due to incomplete software testing.
USAF additionally requested six fewer jets in FY25, opting for 42, despite Lockheed Martin projecting delivery of a record 190 F-35s this year. The fleet continues to struggle with low-availability rates due to maintenance and supply system delays, particularly with engines.
Lockheed Martin delivered the 1,000th F-35 to the Wisconsin ANG’s 115th FW at Truax Field in July 2024, and maintainers successfully regenerated an F-35 from two damaged aircraft in January 2025. The 301st FW at NAS JRB Fort Worth received its first F-35s on Nov. 5, 2024, becoming the first stand-alone AFRC Lightning II unit.
F-35 Lightning II Technical Data
Contractors: Lockheed Martin; BAE Systems; Northrop Grumman; Pratt & Whitney (engine and Engine Core Upgrade).
First Flight: Dec. 15, 2006.
Delivered: April 2011-present.
IOC: Aug. 2, 2016.
Production: Planned: 1,763 (USAF F-35As).
Inventory: 443 (USAF).
Operator: ACC, AETC, AFMC, AFRC, ANG, PACAF, USAFE.
Aircraft Location: Burlington ANGB, Vt.; Dannelly Field, Ala.; Edwards AFB, Calif.; Eglin AFB, Fla.; Eielson AFB, Alaska; Hill AFB, Utah; Luke AFB, Ariz.; NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas , Nellis AFB, Nev.; RAF Lakenheath, U.K.; Truax Field, Wis.; Tyndall AFB, Fla. Planned: Barnes ANGB, Mass.; Jacksonville ANGB, Fla.; Kingsley Field, Ore.; Moody AFB, Ga.
Active Variant: •F-35A. Conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant for the Air Force.
Dimensions: Span 35 ft, length 51.4 ft, height 14.4 ft.
Weight: Max T-O 70,000 lb.
Power Plant: F-35A: one Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100, 40,000 lb thrust.
Performance: Speed Mach 1.6 with full internal weapons load, range 1,380 miles.
Ceiling: 50,000 ft.
Armament: F-35A: one 25 mm GAU-22/A cannon; standard internal loadout: two AIM-120 AMRAAMs and two GBU-31 JDAMs.
Accommodation: Pilot on Martin Baker MK16 zero/zero ejection seat.
