The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a multi-role combat aircraft developed under the US Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program, a program aimed at replacing various models of aircraft.
The F-35 is distinguished by the stealth technologies it incorporates, which makes it difficult to detect by radar.
In addition, it is equipped with advanced IT and communications systems that allow wireless data exchange with other aircraft and ground systems.
The F-35 comes in three versions: the F-35A is the conventional version for terrain landing and takeoff. The F-35B is the vertical takeoff and landing model, and the F-35C is the carrier version.
Each version has some unique differences in its technical features to meet the specific requirements of the various branches of the armed forces that use it. Although the F-35 is one of the most advanced aircraft in the world, it has also been criticized for its high development and production costs, as well as various technical problems.
But over the past two years, the F-35 has undergone several major upgrades, including the TR-3 which provides the necessary computing power to support new capabilities including new sensor systems, more long-range weapons, improved electronic features warfare, more robust data synthesis, and increased cross-platform interoperability.
The F-35 Lightning II is a fifth-generation multi-role fighter aircraft that has many impressive technical features.
Below are some of them:
Engine: A Pratt & Whitney F135 engine, which produces over 40,000 pounds of thrust.
Maximum speed: Mach 1.6 (1,200 mph, 1,930 km/h)
Wingspan: 10.7 meters
Length: 15.7 meters
Height: 4.33 meters
Maximum takeoff weight: 70,000 pounds
Range: approximately 1,200 nautical miles for the F-35A version
Armament: Internal and external mounting points for a variety of weapons, including air missiles, bombs, and firearms.
Range: The F-35 has an internal range of approximately 2,220 kilometers the F-35A version.
Radar:APG-81 AESA radar
Electronic Warfare: The AN/ASQ-239 Barracuda Electronic Warfare system.
These are just some of the technical characteristics of the F-35, but they offer a sense of its capabilities.
How much do they cost;
The cost of the F-35 can vary depending on the type of aircraft and the quantity of purchases. In 2019, Lockheed Martin, the company that makes the F-35, reported that the purchase cost for delivery in 2020 was $77.9 million for the F-35A, $101.3 million for the F-35B, and $94.4 million for the F-35C.
However, it should be noted that these figures do not include the cost of procuring weapons, additional equipment, training, maintenance, or upgrades such as the Block 4 upgrade.
