What You Need to Know: The F-35 Lightning II is the world's most advanced and populous fifth-generation fighter, designed to ensure air superiority in potential conflicts. Lockheed Martin has delivered over 1,060 F-35s across its three variants (A, B, and C), with the U.S. ordering 2,456 units for its forces.

-The F-35 excels in integrating data from multiple sources, acting as an aerial "combat quarterback" to coordinate various military assets. Its stealth and advanced sensors allow it to engage threats undetected.

-Currently used by 19 nations, the F-35 program exemplifies modern defense capabilities, with orders for over 3,500 jets to date.

The F-35 Lightning II is the most advanced fighter jet in the skies today. The fifth-generation stealth fighter jet is the most expensive program in recent history, with a total cost of over $2 trillion throughout its lifetime. After some recent delays, the program is once again pumping out aircraft, turning the F-35 into the most populous fifth-generation aircraft in the world.

F-35: A Program Moving Forward

To this day, Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the F-35, has delivered over 1,060 F-35 Lightning IIs of all three variants. The F-35 fleet has registered over 940,000 flight hours, 2,680 pilots trained to fly the aircraft, and 17,200 maintainers qualified to service the stealth fighter jet.

As of November, 19 countries are part of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, with Greece being the last member to join with an order of 20 F-35A and the option to buy another 20. All in all, Lockheed Martin has received orders for 3,542 aircraft of all three variants.

The U.S. military is by far the largest customer of the F-35, with a total order of 2,456 aircraft for the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps. The U.S. military is also the only country that has ordered the F-35C, which is designed for aircraft carrier operations.

As we have analyzed here at The National Interest before, the F-35 production is a national security matter. The aircraft is the most advanced stealth fighter jet in the world. In a potential near-peer conflict with China or Russia, the F-35 would play a key role in helping the U.S. military establish air superiority over the battlefield, thus paving the way for victory.

What the F-35 brings to the fight that other platforms don’t is an ability to connect everything together. In many ways, the F-35 Lightning II is the combat quarterback of the skies. Using its plethora of advanced onboard sensors, the F-35 can see and analyze troves of data from the air, ground, and sea and coordinate different assets in a more effective kill chain.

In addition to this cutting-edge capability, the F-35 is a highly effective combat platform on its own. Its stealth characteristics combined with the advanced onboard sensors and weapon systems the aircraft carries mean that the F-35 pilot will see and track an adversary long before he has the opportunity to spot the stealth aircraft. And that timeframe is enough for the F-35 to shoot down its adversary.

The F-35 Lighting II

As indicated, the F-35 Lightning II comes in three variants: the F-35A is the conventional take-off version of the aircraft and the most popular among the F-35 users. The F-35B is the Short Take-off, Vertical Landing (STOVL) version of the aircraft that can take off like a helicopter but still fly like a fighter jet; the F-35B is the second most popular version.

Finally, the F-35C is the carrier-based version of the aircraft and sports a reinforced structure and landing gear that allows it to take off and land on aircraft carriers. This version is only operational with the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

About the Author

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

Image Credit: Creative Commons.