Everything You Need to Know about the F-35C (2024)

FAQs

What do you need to know about the F-35? ›

This plane is designed for total mission success, with the most survivable yet lethal co*ckpit environment to date. The F-35 combines unparalleled stealth with 360-degree situational awareness and the ability to conduct attacks electronically, along with sophisticated data capturing and a robust communication suite.

The F-35's aligned edges, reduced engine signature, internal carriage of weapons and fuel and embedded sensors all contribute to its unique stealth performance. With stealth designed in from day one, the F-35 has an unmatched ability to evade enemy detection and enter contested airspace.

The F-35 can internally store up to six missiles for air-to-air engagements and eight bombs for ground attack missions. Additionally, it can carry up to four GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bombs with a maximum range of 10 miles.

The main drivers of critical failures were “troubleshooting (including software stability), attaching hardware (including nutplates), wires/tubes/ducts/ fiber optics, throttle grip, aircraft memory device, [low observability] repair, standby flight display, refueling door, position light,” the report noted.

The F-35C can reach speeds of 1.6 Mach (~1,200 mph) even with a full internal weapons load. With its fuel and internal weapons load, the F-35C can fly faster with no drag associated with external tanks and weapons required for legacy fighters.

The F-35C Lightning II jets of VFA 147 will take over from the F/A-18 Hornets of VFA 115, while the CMV-22B Ospreys of VRM 30, Det FDNF, will replace the C-2A Greyhound aircraft previously supporting CVW 5 and Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 5.

Where the F-35 differentiates from the F-22 is at sensory and connectivity game. Although both aircraft have superb situational awareness, the F-35 takes it a step further by using its sensors, information fusion, and data link capabilities to make other aircraft, even older ones, more deadly and effective.

Berke said that if there were no engine problems to force the aircraft from the sky, it could conceivably keep coasting if it was left in autopilot. "If the jet's engine is working well and it was in a stable position when the pilot ejected, it's totally plausible," he said.

How far can an F-35 fly on a tank of fuel? It has range and mission persistence. The F-35C carries nearly 20,000 lbs of internal fuel and has a range of greater than 1,200 nm. The enables F-35C pilots to fly further and remain in a desired battlespace longer before refueling is necessary.

The F-35 is a family of single-engine, supersonic, stealth multirole fighters.

Why does the F-35C have larger wings? ›

With more robust landing gear, larger wings and larger internal fuel capacity, the F-35C was designed explicitly for aircraft carrier operations. Operated by America's Navy and Marine Corps, F-35Cs have recently been operating on three American carriers – bringing new capabilities and flexibility to carrier decks.

The F-35A's GAU-22/A 25mm cannon had been suffering from issues, resulting in an inability to shoot straight. Understandably, this serious problem caused concerns about the ability of the military's most advanced fighter jet to perform in actual combat conditions.

Here are some raw numbers about the costliest military program in U.S. history: the F-35 jet fighter. Three different versions of the plane are being developed, and a total of 2,457 copies are to be manufactured by 2035.

The F-35B is the first-ever supersonic stealth aircraft with short takeoff/vertical landing capability. The F-35B's unique ability to land vertically and take off in very short distances allows it to operate from a variety of ships and austere locations.

"Historically, an aircraft without a pilot can fly a long way on autopilot," added Frederik Mertens, a strategic analyst with the Hague Center for Security Studies. "Without air-to-air refueling, the F-35 has a range of over 1,000 miles," retired Air Commodore Andrew Curtis, of Britain's Royal Air Force, told Newsweek.