The F-35A Lightning II is a single-seat, conventional takeoff and landing, fifth generation fighter jet built by American aviation firm Lockheed Martin. Dubbed by some a “flying supercomputer,” the stealth, supersonic F-35A boasts a remarkable suite of capabilities, from engaging enemy fighters in air superiority missions, to gathering and processing a tremendous field of intelligence data, to conducting precision bombing and attack raids on even the most heavily defended targets, and much more. The jet entered service on August 2, 2016 with the United States Air Force, its primary user, and is also flown by the militaries of a number of U.S. partner nations, including South Korea, Norway, and Italy, among others.
The F-35A features a main wing with a span of 35 feet and a swept leading edge, twin canted vertical stabilizers, and all-moving horizontal stabilizers. It is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 afterburning turbofan engine that generates up to 28,000 pounds of thrust in military power and up to 43,000 pounds with afterburner. The Lightning II has a range of 1,500 miles, a service ceiling of 50,000 feet above sea level, and a top speed of Mach 1.6.
A truly remarkable aircraft due to its unprecedented combination of systems and capabilities, the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II is a bird of prey and performance. From within the cockpit, aviators can blast into the heights, pull maneuvers up to +9gs, then cruise high or low and scan the world around them in all conditions, day and night.
