Role | Multirole fighter |
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National origin | United States |
Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin |
First flight | 15 December 2006; 17 years ago (F-35A) |
Introduction |
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Status | In service |
Primary users | United States Air Force
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Produced | 2006–present |
Number built | 1,000+ |
Developed from | Lockheed Martin X-35 |
he aircraft descends from the Lockheed Martin X-35, which in 2001 beat the Boeing X-32 to win the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. Its development is principally funded by the United States, with additional funding from program partner countries from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and close U.S. allies, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Italy, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and formerly Turkey. Several other countries have also ordered, or are considering ordering, the aircraft. The program has drawn much scrutiny and criticism for its unprecedented size, complexity, ballooning costs, and much-delayed deliveries. The acquisition strategy of concurrent production of the aircraft while it was still in development and testing led to expensive design changes and retrofits.
Ceiling
Combat RANGE
Aircraft Speed
Max Crew
American reconnaissance satellites first spotted the advanced Soviet Su-27 and MiG-29 fighter prototypes in 1978, which caused concern in the U.S. Both Soviet models were expected to reduce the maneuverability advantage of contemporary US fighter aircraft.
"The new aircraft is expected to strike targets anywhere across a continent in less than an hour."
The Northrop/McDonnell Douglas YF-23, is an American single-seat, twin-engine stealth fighter aircraft technology demonstrator designed for the United States Air Force.