The F-35 strengthens national security, enhances global partnerships and powers economic growth. It is the most lethal, survivable and connected fighter aircraft in the world, giving pilots an advantage against any adversary and enabling them to execute their mission and come home safe.
All three variants have similar performance characteristics and the exact same advanced avionics. The variation between models allows military forces to achieve service-specific mission capability, while still taking advantage of the economies of scale that result from the parts and processes that are common to all three variants.
F-35ADesigned to operate from conventional runways and is the most common variant.
The United States Air Force and the majority of F-35 international allied customers operate the F-35A.
F-35BCan land vertically like a helicopter and take-off in very short distances. This allows it to operate from austere, short-field bases and a range of air-capable ships. The F-35B is operated by the United States Marine Corps, the United Kingdom, and the Italian Air Force.
F-35CThe Navy’s first stealth fighter and the world’s only 5th Generation, long-range stealth strike fighter designed and built explicitly for aircraft carrier operations. The F-35C is operated by the US Navy and US Marine Corps.
The Global F-35 EnterpriseThe F-35 is developed, produced, and supported by an international team of government allies and aerospace industry leaders. The F-35 Program is managed by the Pentagon’s F-35 Joint Program Office, the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy are all procuring and operating F-35s. The program was founded by eight international partners — the U.S., United Kingdom, Italy, Netherlands, Australia, Norway, Denmark and Canada. Seven Foreign Military Sales customers are also procuring and operating the F-35 — Israel, Japan, South Korea, Belgium Poland, Singapore and Finland. Lockheed Martin serves as the prime contractor with a global supply chain of more than 1,900 companies based in the United States and in every nation acquiring the F-35.
Transformational CapabilityAs adversaries advance and legacy aircraft age, the 5th Generation F-35 is critical to maintaining air dominance now and for decades to come. 5th Generation capability is defined by the combination of Very Low Observable stealth, advanced sensors, information fusion and network connectivity — all packaged within in a supersonic, long range, highly maneuverable fighter.
With this advanced technology, the F-35 is a multi-role fighter capable of successfully executing any and all mission, including new missions not traditionally fulfilled by legacy fighters. More than a fighter jet, the F-35’s ability to collect, analyze and share data, is a powerful force multiplier that enhances all airborne, surface and ground-based assets in the battlespace
Sustaining the World’s Most Advanced FighterThe F-35 enterprise partners to ensure the world’s most advanced fighter is mission ready and affordable to sustain throughout its lifecycle.
