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35 Lightning II: The Illustrated History of an Iconic Military Aircraft

Cole Powell

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Published in F 35 Lightning II Illustrated (The Illustrated Of Military Aircraft)

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The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a fifth-generation, single-seat, single-engine, supersonic multirole fighter. It is the most advanced and versatile fighter aircraft in the world, and it is designed to perform a wide range of missions, including air superiority, ground attack, electronic warfare, and reconnaissance.

The F-35 Lightning II is the product of decades of research and development, and it incorporates the latest advances in aerospace technology. It is powered by a Pratt & Whitney F135 engine, which provides it with exceptional performance and range. The F-35 also features an advanced avionics suite, which gives it unprecedented situational awareness and weapons control capabilities.

F 35 Lightning II Illustrated (The Illustrated of Military Aircraft)

F-35 Lightning II Illustrated (The Illustrated Series of Military Aircraft)

by Lou Drendel

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	76613 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	196 pages

The F-35 Lightning II is a revolutionary fighter aircraft that is transforming the way that air combat is conducted. It is a key element of the United States Air Force's future plans, and it is destined to play a major role in the defense of the United States and its allies for decades to come.

Development and Design

The F-35 Lightning II is the product of a joint development program between the United States and its allies, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Turkey. The program was launched in 1996, and the first F-35 prototype flew in 2006. The F-35 entered service with the United States Air Force in 2015, and it is currently in service with the air forces of the United Kingdom, Israel, and Italy.

The F-35 is a single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft with a distinctive diamond-shaped fuselage and canted vertical stabilizers. It is powered by a Pratt & Whitney F135 engine, which provides it with a top speed of Mach 1.6 and a range of over 1,000 miles. The F-35 also features an advanced avionics suite, which includes a helmet-mounted display, a synthetic aperture radar, and a distributed aperture system.

The F-35 is designed to be a multirole fighter, and it can perform a wide range of missions, including air superiority, ground attack, electronic warfare, and reconnaissance. It is armed with a variety of weapons, including air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles, and bombs. The F-35 also has a built-in cannon, which can be used for close-air support missions.

Operational History

The F-35 Lightning II has seen limited combat use to date. It was first used in combat by the Israeli Air Force in 2018, and it has also been used by the United States Air Force in Afghanistan. The F-35 has proven to be a highly effective combat aircraft, and it has been praised for its stealth, maneuverability, and weapons systems.

The F-35 is expected to play a major role in the defense of the United States and its allies for decades to come. It is a key element of the United States Air Force's future plans, and it is destined to be one of the most important fighter aircraft in the world.

Variants

The F-35 Lightning II is available in three variants: the F-35A, the F-35B, and the F-35C. The F-35A is the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant, and it is the most common variant in service. The F-35B is the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant, and it is capable of taking off and landing from short runways or even from ships. The F-35C is the carrier-based variant, and it is designed to operate from aircraft carriers.

The three variants of the F-35 Lightning II are all highly capable aircraft, and they offer a wide range of capabilities to meet the needs of different users. The F-35A is the most versatile variant, and it is suitable for a wide range of missions. The F-35B is ideal for operations from short runways or ships, and the F-35C is designed to operate from aircraft carriers.

Operators

The F-35 Lightning II is currently in service with the air forces of the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel, and Italy. Other countries have also Free Downloaded the F-35, including Australia, Canada, Denmark, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Singapore, South Korea, and Turkey.

The F-35 Lightning II is a key element of the defense plans of many countries around the world. It is a highly capable and versatile fighter aircraft that is transforming the way that air combat is conducted.

The F-35 Lightning II is a revolutionary fighter aircraft that is transforming the way that air combat is conducted. It is the most advanced and versatile fighter aircraft in the world, and it is destined to play a major role in the defense of the United States and its allies for decades to come.

Image Gallery

[Image of F-35 Lightning II taking off]

[Image of F-35 Lightning II in flight]

[Image of F-35 Lightning II landing on an aircraft carrier]

[Image of F-35 Lightning II firing a missile]

[Image of F-35 Lightning II in a hangar]

* [The F-35 Lightning II: A Revolutionary Fighter Aircraft](https://www.airforcemag.com/article/the-f-35-lightning-ii-a-revolutionary-fighter-aircraft/) * [The F-35 Lightning II: A Game-Changer for Air Combat](https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a26584/f-35-lightning-ii-game-changer/) * [The F-35 Lightning II: The Future of Air Combat](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/09/the-f-35-lightning-ii-the-future-of-air-combat/407385/)

F-35 Lightning II Illustrated (The Illustrated Series of Military Aircraft)

by Lou Drendel

4.3 out of 5