US Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley officially naming the F-35 as the Lighting II
Comparison of F-35 modelsThe F-35 was declared winner of the US Department of Defense Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) competition in 2001 when the Lockheed Martin X-35 was judged superior to the Boeing X-32. The goal of the F-35 is to provide a family of three distinct variants of a multi-role fighter that use a 70% to 90% common airframe to reduce production and maintenance costs. The JSF is a joint program between the United States and United Kingdom, and several other international partners are also participating in the development effort. The primary customers dictating the design specifications for the various F-35 models are the US Air Force, US Navy, US Marine Corps, UK Royal Air Force, and UK Royal Navy. The overall design developed by Lockheed with partners Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems resembles a scaled-down F-22, but each F-35 variant is tailored to the specific needs of its operators.
The simplest and least expensive model is the F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) version based on the X-35A. Intended primarily for the US Air Force, the F-35A is also likely to be purchased by a number of export customers. Italy and the Netherlands are Level II partners while Level III partners include Australia, Canada, Denmark, Norway, and Turkey. Both Singapore and Israel are also foreign military sales participants. The F-35 CTOL variant will be optimized for attack duties with a limited air-to-air capability to complement the F-15 and F-22.
The US Navy needs much the same capabilites in its F-35C carrier variant (CV) model based on the X-35C. This model is intended to complement the F-18E/F and give the Navy its first dedicated stealth attack aircraft. However, the F-35 CV is modified to meet more stringent range and landing requirements. The most obvious of these modifications is a 35% larger wing permitting a higher fuel capacity and providing greater wing area for improved lift at low speeds. Other changes to the F-35 CV version include larger fin and elevator surfaces, ailerons in addition to flaperons on the wing, enlarged control surfaces, a modified control system, strengthened landing gear, a catapult launch bar on the twin-wheel nose gear, an arrester hook, and a wing folding mechanism.
Perhaps the most critically needed F-35 variant is the most complex, the F-35B short/vertical takeoff and landing (STOVL) model based on the X-35B. This model is intended to replace the aging AV-8B and GR.5/7 Harrier II as well as the Harrier and Sea Harrier operated by the US Marines, Royal Air Force, and Royal Navy. The F-35B variant features a ducted lift fan located in an enlarged spine just aft of the cockpit. This fan takes the place of a fuel tank carried aboard the other F-35 models and is used to provide most of the lift needed for vertical flight. The main engine powers the lift fan and is also equipped with a unique swivelling nozzle that can redirect thrust aft for level flight or down for vertical flight.
Unfortunately, the complexity of the F-35 STOVL model has also caused significant development problems for the JSF program. The early design of the F-35B proved to be significantly overweight, and the program was delayed by over a year as engineers struggled to meet the ambitious performance and cost goals. The solution ultimately adopted was to reduce the size of the internal weapon bays in comparison to the other F-35 models. While the CTOL and CV variants can carry 2,000-lb weapons internally, the largest weapon the F-35B can carry in its weapon bays is the 1,000-lb GBU-32 JDAM. The vertical tails of the F-35 STOVL have also been shortened to reduce weight.
Design of the JSF has placed the greatest emphasis on advanced weapons concepts and affordability. One of the most sophisticated features common to the various F-35 models is an integrated core processor that fuses information from all the aircraft's sensors into a single, coordinated view of the battlefield. Among these sensors is an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar with a synthetic aperture radar mapping mode to provide the pilot with far more precise search and targeting capabilites than exist in today's attack fighters. The F-35 is also equipped with an infrared search and track (IRST) system for air-to-air combat while advanced air-to-ground combat features include an electro-optical targeting system (EOTS) with a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) imager, a targeting laser, a laser spot tracker, and a CCD TV camera. The F-35's sophisticated software is capable of analyzing the information these sensors provide using an automatic target recognition and classification (ATRC) system to identify specific targets. While stealth is also emphasized through the use of internal weapon bays and low obervable shaping techniques, sacrifices have been made to lower costs and ease maintenance. As a result, the F-35 is not as stealthy as the F-22 or B-2.
During the current system development and demonstration phase of the program, 14 F-35 aircraft are to be built to perform flight tests leading up to initial production. These F-35 test aircraft include five CTOL, four CV, and five STOVL models. An additional eight ground test articles will also be built for static testing, drop testing, and radar signature evaluation. Low-rate initial production is due to begin in 2008.
F-35 orders remain a matter of debate, but current plans call for the US and UK to purchase approximately 2,600 aircraft. The US Air Force originally planned for 2,036 F-35A aircraft but reduced its requirement to 1,763 in 1997. This total remains the offical requirement though the Air Force has unofficially indicated its order will be reduced to between 1,000 and 1,300 aircraft. Some number of these may also be F-35B models as the Air Force has expressed a requirement for up to 250 STOVL aircraft for close air support missions. Such a purchase would likely assist in reducing unit cost and improving the stability of the STOVL program, which has often been targeted for possible cancellation.
The US Navy and Marine Corps have also begun combining their combat aircraft wings in part to reduce the need for new aircraft. The Marines originally requested 642 F-35B models while the Navy wanted 300 F-35C variants. In 1997, these figures were refined to 609 for the Marines and 480 for the Navy for a total of 1,089 F-35 aircraft. As of 2004, that total had been reduced to 680 aircraft including 350 F-35B variants and 330 F-35C models. The services have yet to determine how those aircraft will be allocated since the Marines may recieve a mixture of both CV and STOVL aircraft. Likewise, the Royal Navy may split its order between the F-35 STOVL and F-35 CV models since the F-35C models could potentially be operated aboard the UK's large aircraft carriers due to enter service in the 2010s. The total UK order has shrunk from 150 to 138 aircraft.
In addition to US and UK orders, the potential exists for over 2,000 F-35 sales to export customers. The international partners currently involved in the program have so far expressed tentative plans for nearly 600 aircraft. Italy is interested in up to 131 planes, Australia and Turkey are considering 100 each, the Netherlands 85, Canada 60, and Denmark and Norway may buy 48 apiece. None of these countries have officially placed orders so far, but the F-35 program is encouraging international partners to commit to firm orders as soon as possible. Convincing the partners to do so may prove difficult, however, given past development delays that have driven up costs and pushed service entry back from 2011 to 2013. These delays may cause international partners to instead order competing aircraft like the Gripen or Eurofighter Typhoon that are already in production. Norway has already threatened to pull out of the program over workshare concerns, and Israel's involvement was suspended for several months in retaliation for possible technology transfer to China. Regardless, export sales are expected to be strong and F-35 production will likely last until at least 2030.
The simplest and least expensive model is the F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) version based on the X-35A. Intended primarily for the US Air Force, the F-35A is also likely to be purchased by a number of export customers. Italy and the Netherlands are Level II partners while Level III partners include Australia, Canada, Denmark, Norway, and Turkey. Both Singapore and Israel are also foreign military sales participants. The F-35 CTOL variant will be optimized for attack duties with a limited air-to-air capability to complement the F-15 and F-22.
The US Navy needs much the same capabilites in its F-35C carrier variant (CV) model based on the X-35C. This model is intended to complement the F-18E/F and give the Navy its first dedicated stealth attack aircraft. However, the F-35 CV is modified to meet more stringent range and landing requirements. The most obvious of these modifications is a 35% larger wing permitting a higher fuel capacity and providing greater wing area for improved lift at low speeds. Other changes to the F-35 CV version include larger fin and elevator surfaces, ailerons in addition to flaperons on the wing, enlarged control surfaces, a modified control system, strengthened landing gear, a catapult launch bar on the twin-wheel nose gear, an arrester hook, and a wing folding mechanism.
Perhaps the most critically needed F-35 variant is the most complex, the F-35B short/vertical takeoff and landing (STOVL) model based on the X-35B. This model is intended to replace the aging AV-8B and GR.5/7 Harrier II as well as the Harrier and Sea Harrier operated by the US Marines, Royal Air Force, and Royal Navy. The F-35B variant features a ducted lift fan located in an enlarged spine just aft of the cockpit. This fan takes the place of a fuel tank carried aboard the other F-35 models and is used to provide most of the lift needed for vertical flight. The main engine powers the lift fan and is also equipped with a unique swivelling nozzle that can redirect thrust aft for level flight or down for vertical flight.
Unfortunately, the complexity of the F-35 STOVL model has also caused significant development problems for the JSF program. The early design of the F-35B proved to be significantly overweight, and the program was delayed by over a year as engineers struggled to meet the ambitious performance and cost goals. The solution ultimately adopted was to reduce the size of the internal weapon bays in comparison to the other F-35 models. While the CTOL and CV variants can carry 2,000-lb weapons internally, the largest weapon the F-35B can carry in its weapon bays is the 1,000-lb GBU-32 JDAM. The vertical tails of the F-35 STOVL have also been shortened to reduce weight.
Design of the JSF has placed the greatest emphasis on advanced weapons concepts and affordability. One of the most sophisticated features common to the various F-35 models is an integrated core processor that fuses information from all the aircraft's sensors into a single, coordinated view of the battlefield. Among these sensors is an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar with a synthetic aperture radar mapping mode to provide the pilot with far more precise search and targeting capabilites than exist in today's attack fighters. The F-35 is also equipped with an infrared search and track (IRST) system for air-to-air combat while advanced air-to-ground combat features include an electro-optical targeting system (EOTS) with a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) imager, a targeting laser, a laser spot tracker, and a CCD TV camera. The F-35's sophisticated software is capable of analyzing the information these sensors provide using an automatic target recognition and classification (ATRC) system to identify specific targets. While stealth is also emphasized through the use of internal weapon bays and low obervable shaping techniques, sacrifices have been made to lower costs and ease maintenance. As a result, the F-35 is not as stealthy as the F-22 or B-2.
During the current system development and demonstration phase of the program, 14 F-35 aircraft are to be built to perform flight tests leading up to initial production. These F-35 test aircraft include five CTOL, four CV, and five STOVL models. An additional eight ground test articles will also be built for static testing, drop testing, and radar signature evaluation. Low-rate initial production is due to begin in 2008.
F-35 orders remain a matter of debate, but current plans call for the US and UK to purchase approximately 2,600 aircraft. The US Air Force originally planned for 2,036 F-35A aircraft but reduced its requirement to 1,763 in 1997. This total remains the offical requirement though the Air Force has unofficially indicated its order will be reduced to between 1,000 and 1,300 aircraft. Some number of these may also be F-35B models as the Air Force has expressed a requirement for up to 250 STOVL aircraft for close air support missions. Such a purchase would likely assist in reducing unit cost and improving the stability of the STOVL program, which has often been targeted for possible cancellation.
The US Navy and Marine Corps have also begun combining their combat aircraft wings in part to reduce the need for new aircraft. The Marines originally requested 642 F-35B models while the Navy wanted 300 F-35C variants. In 1997, these figures were refined to 609 for the Marines and 480 for the Navy for a total of 1,089 F-35 aircraft. As of 2004, that total had been reduced to 680 aircraft including 350 F-35B variants and 330 F-35C models. The services have yet to determine how those aircraft will be allocated since the Marines may recieve a mixture of both CV and STOVL aircraft. Likewise, the Royal Navy may split its order between the F-35 STOVL and F-35 CV models since the F-35C models could potentially be operated aboard the UK's large aircraft carriers due to enter service in the 2010s. The total UK order has shrunk from 150 to 138 aircraft.
In addition to US and UK orders, the potential exists for over 2,000 F-35 sales to export customers. The international partners currently involved in the program have so far expressed tentative plans for nearly 600 aircraft. Italy is interested in up to 131 planes, Australia and Turkey are considering 100 each, the Netherlands 85, Canada 60, and Denmark and Norway may buy 48 apiece. None of these countries have officially placed orders so far, but the F-35 program is encouraging international partners to commit to firm orders as soon as possible. Convincing the partners to do so may prove difficult, however, given past development delays that have driven up costs and pushed service entry back from 2011 to 2013. These delays may cause international partners to instead order competing aircraft like the Gripen or Eurofighter Typhoon that are already in production. Norway has already threatened to pull out of the program over workshare concerns, and Israel's involvement was suspended for several months in retaliation for possible technology transfer to China. Regardless, export sales are expected to be strong and F-35 production will likely last until at least 2030.
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