Get Wise: The F-35 Fighter Jet

F-35 Fighter Jets

The F-35 fighter jet is the latest fighter jet that United States Military has developed. It is a fifth-generation fighter jet that was built to replace the Top Gun F-16s for the United States military and its alias. The F-35 marks an aggressive advancement in technology for the military. Featuring an enhanced capability to survive in the multiple threat environments of the modern world through its aerodynamic performance and advanced integrated avionics. The F-35A will provide next-generation stealth, enhanced situational awareness, and everything else that the pilot needs to stay safe and carry out his mission.

Can F-35 Fighter Jets Take Off Straight Up?

The F-35 was made for multiple branches of the United States Military and its alias. In one of the versions, it has a turbofan that points up and down vertically allowing the plane to land and take off from a standing position. No runway is needed. There are essentially three types of F-35 fighter jets. A version for regular take-off situations, a version for aircraft carriers where they have less room for take-off and landing, and a version made for taking off and landing vertically when no runway is available. there have been verticle take-off planes in the military before the F-35 but never with its capabilities. This f-35 is the very first fighter jet to ever be able to take off vertically.

What Countries Have F-35 Fighter Jets?

Overall nine countries were involved in the development of the F-35 fighter jet and its associated technologies. The United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Denmark, Norway, and Australia all participated and as such will all have access to the elite fighter jets. The F-35 represents a new model of international cooperation in regard to aerial warfare and national defense. The F-35 also brings together strategic international partnerships, providing affordability by reducing redundant research and development and providing access to technology from around the world. As a result, the F-35 will employ a variety of US and allied technology and weapons systems.

What Are the Weapon Systems Like on the F-35 Fighter Jet?

The F-35’s electronic sensors include the Electro-Optical Distributed Aperture System (DAS). This system provides pilots with situational awareness in a sphere around the aircraft for enhanced missile warning, aircraft warning, and day/night pilot vision. Additionally, the aircraft is equipped with the Electro-Optical Targeting System. The internally mounted EOTS provides extended-range detection and precision targeting against ground targets, plus long-range detection of air-to-air threats. All in all the F-35 has the most advanced weapons system ever invented.

Is the F-35 Fighter Jet Pilot’s Helmet Augmented Reality?

The short answer is, yes. But it is actually even more advanced than that. The F-35’s helmet-mounted display system is the most advanced system of its kind ever created. All the intelligence and targeting information an F-35 pilot needs to complete their mission is displayed on the helmet’s visor. No paperwork on the pilot’s knee or cluster of gadgets and dials to read. Instead, everything is brought into the pilot’s field of vision right through his helmet visor, providing laser-fast information transfer and response times for the pilots.

The F-35 contains state-of-the-art tactical data software that provides for the secure sharing of data among its fellow squadron members as well as other airborne, surface, and ground-based platforms required to perform certain mission types. These extensive technological upgrades provide the pilot with unsurpassed situational awareness, positive target identification, and precision strike ability in all weather conditions. Mission systems integration and outstanding over-the-nose visibility features are designed to dramatically enhance pilot battle performance as well.

How Many F-35s Does the United States Military Have?

According to public records the United States has around 500 of the F-35 fighter jets currently in operation and plans to make about 2,500 of them in total. So that probably means in reality they have 2,500 already and want to make 5,000 of them. The US Government also has around 200 F-22s which is another 5th generation fighter jet, but an air superiority fighter, and that one is well recognized as the most powerful fighter jet in the history of mankind. The thing is though that the United States has such air domination already that we don’t really need a lot of air superiority fighter jets because no country in their right mind would ever get into dogfights with the United States Military. We have the eagle as our logo for a reason. We absolutely dominate the sky wherever our military is so it’s more important for us to have multi-role fighters like the F-35s. Then it is for us to have air superiority fighters like the F-22 even if the F-22 is cooler to military technology aficionados and more powerful in the air.

F-35 Lightning Fighter Jet Stats

 

Primary Function: Multirole fighter

Prime Contractor: Lockheed Martin

Power Plant: One Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 turbofan engine

Thrust: 43,000 pounds

Wingspan: 35 feet (10.7 meters)

Length: 51 feet (15.7 meters)

Height: 14 feet (4.38 meters)

Maximum Takeoff Weight: 70,000 pounds

Fuel Capacity: Internal: 18,498 pounds

Payload: 18,000 pounds (8,160 kilograms)

Speed: Mach 1.6 (~1,200 mph)

Range: More than 1,350 miles with internal fuel (1,200+ nautical miles), unlimited with aerial refueling

Ceiling: Above 50,000 feet (15 kilometers)

Armament: Internal and external capability. Munitions carried vary based on mission requirements.

Crew: One