Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids F-35 Lightning II

A U.S. Air Force F-35A
Role	Stealth multirole fighter
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Lockheed Martin
First flight	15 December 2006; 18 years ago (2006-12-15) (F-35A)
Introduction	F-35B: 31 July 2015 (USMC) F-35A: 2 August 2016 (USAF) F-35C: 28 February 2019 (USN)
Status	In service
Primary users	United States Air Force United States Marine Corps United States Navy Royal Air Force See Operators section for others
Produced	2006–present
Number built	625+ as of April 1, 2021
Developed from	Lockheed Martin X-35

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 (CTOL) F-35A, the short take-off and vertical-landing (STOVL) F-35B, and the carrier-based (CV/CATOBAR) F-35C.

The aircraft descends from the Lockheed Martin X-35, which in 2001 beat the Boeing X-32 to win the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program.

Its development is principally funded by the United States, with additional funding from program partner countries from NATO and close U.S. allies, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Italy, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and formerly Turkey. Several other countries have ordered, or are considering ordering, the aircraft.

The program has drawn much scrutiny and criticism for its unprecedented size, complexity, ballooning costs, and much-delayed deliveries, with numerous technical flaws still being corrected.

Operating costs

The F-35's operating cost is higher than those of some older fighters. In fiscal year 2018, the F-35A's cost per flight hour (CPFH) was $44,000, a number that was reduced to $35,000 in 2019. For comparison, in 2015 the CPFH of the A-10 was $17,716; the F-15C, $41,921; and the F-16C, $22,514. Lockheed Martin hopes to reduce it to $25,000 by 2025 through performance-based logistics and other measures.

Images for kids

X-35B flying over Edwards Air Force Base
An F-35 wind tunnel testing model in 16-foot (5 m) transonic wind tunnel at the Arnold Engineering Development Center
The first F-35A prototype, AA-1, being towed to its inauguration ceremony on 7 July 2006.
USAF F-35A at RAF Fairford for RIAT 2018
(From the top) F-35A of the 33rd FW, F-35B of VMFAT-501 and F-35C of VFA-101 near Eglin AFB, 2014
Electro-optical target system (EOTS) under the nose of an F-35
AN/APG-81 AESA radar antenna
Note the sawtooth design on the landing gear door and access panels
F-35 cockpit simulator
The F-35's helmet-mounted display system
F-35A with all weapon bay doors open
Illustration of the STOVL swivel nozzle, lift fan, and roll-control posts
The first delivered USAF F-35 on its delivery flight to Eglin AFB, July 2011
A USMC F-35B launches off the ski-jump of HMS Queen Elizabeth, 2018
A pair of F-35Cs and F/A-18E/Fs fly over NAS Fallon, home of TOPGUN, in September 2015.
A F/A-18E Super Hornet (left) provides aerial refueling to a USMC F-35B
F-35B ZM148 of No. 617 Squadron landing on HMS Queen Elizabeth, 2019
An RAAF F-35A at the 2019 Australian International Airshow in Avalon, Victoria
The F-35I Adir (accompanied by a 253 Squadron F-16I Sufa) on its debut flight in Israel, December 2016
First Norwegian F-35 Lightning II at Luke Air Force Base
One of the RAAF's first two F-35As in December 2014
On 3 October 2021, the first F-35Bs performed landings and take-offs from JS Izumo
First four RAF F-35Bs on a delivery flight to RAF Marham, June 2018
USN F-35C performs a touch-and-go landing aboard USS Abraham Lincoln
F-35A 3-view drawing
F-35B cutaway with lift fan

Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II facts for kids

Operating costs

Images for kids

See also