The F-35 is in a class of its own when it comes to its sensor suite, stealth, networking, performance, and versatility. Here’s what sets it apart from any other fighter:
Most Advanced Sensor Suite
The F-35 possesses the most sophisticated sensor package of any fighter in history. Its state-of-the-art systems include:
- AN/APG-81 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar for unmatched detection range and resolution
- Distributed Aperture System (DAS) that provides 360-degree infrared coverage around the aircraft for missile detection and tracking
- Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) that combines forward-looking infrared (FLIR), infrared search and track, and laser designation for precise air-to-air and air-to-ground targeting
All this sensor data is fused together and presented to the pilot in an intuitive display, providing unparalleled situational awareness. The F-35 pilot can detect, track and engage air and ground targets long before adversaries are even aware of the jet’s presence.
Stealth Design
The F-35 is extremely difficult to detect. It was designed from the ground up for very low observable (VLO) stealth, incorporating radar-absorbent materials, internal weapons bays, and radar-deflecting angular shaping.
Enemy radar will have trouble finding and tracking the F-35, let alone targeting it.
While no aircraft is completely invisible to radar, the F-35’s stealth design makes it exceptionally challenging to detect and engage, especially compared to conventional 4th generation fighters.
Network-Enabled Ops
The F-35 serves as a flying sensor and communications node, sharing the data it collects with other air, ground, and naval assets.
Its advanced datalinks allow the F-35 to securely exchange real-time information with legacy aircraft, ships, satellites, and troops, enhancing the situational awareness of all friendly forces.
In essence, the F-35 is a force multiplier, making every asset on the networked battlefield more capable and lethal. A flight of F-35s can provide unprecedented intelligence and targeting data to the rest of the force while engaging priority targets themselves.
Supersonic Performance
Powered by a single Pratt & Whitney F135 turbofan, the most powerful fighter engine ever made, the F-35 has blistering performance. It can reach speeds of Mach 1.6, even while carrying a full internal weapons load.
The F-35 also boasts impressive range. It can fly over 1,350 miles without refueling, allowing it to strike distant targets and loiter for extended periods over the battlefield.
When operating from aircraft carriers or forward bases, the F-35’s reach allows it to hit targets deep inside enemy territory.
Multirole Versatility
The F-35 is a true multirole fighter, able to perform virtually any mission required of a modern combat aircraft. Its roles include:
- Air superiority against enemy fighters
- Strategic attack against heavily defended targets
- Close air support for troops on the ground
- Suppression/destruction of enemy air defenses
- Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance gathering
The F-35 can carry over 18,000 pounds of internal and external weapons, ranging from air-to-air missiles to precision guided bombs to anti-ship missiles. Its advanced sensors and fusion allow it to detect, identify, track and engage a huge variety of targets.
How Many F-35s Does the U.S. Have?
The U.S. plans to acquire a total of 2,456 F-35s through 2044 to equip the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps. (ref) As of early 2024, the U.S. military has taken delivery of:
- 302 F-35As for the U.S. Air Force
- 112 F-35Bs for the U.S. Marine Corps
- 30 F-35Cs for the U.S. Navy
This represents only a fraction of the planned procurement. Ultimately, the U.S. intends to purchase:
- 1,763 F-35As for the Air Force
- 353 F-35Bs and 67 F-35Cs for the Marine Corps
- 273 F-35Cs for the Navy
The F-35 will eventually become the predominant fighter aircraft in the U.S. inventory, replacing most F-16s, F/A-18s, AV-8Bs and A-10s currently in service. However, the full transition will take several more decades to complete.
The Future Is Lightning
The F-35 Lightning II represents a quantum leap in fighter capability, giving the U.S. and its allies a decisive advantage over any potential adversary. Its advanced stealth, sensors, fusion, networking, and multirole flexibility make it the most lethal and survivable aircraft in the world today.
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Nancy Maffia
Nancy received a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.
