F-35C

F-35 Charlie

Design & Features

Performance & Operations

History & Development

Carrier-Capable Design: Built for catapult launches and arrested landings on aircraft carriers.
Larger Wingspan: 43-foot wingspan with foldable wingtips for enhanced lift and carrier storage.
Stealth Technology: Low observable design for penetrating advanced air defenses.
Single-Engine Power: Powered by the Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 turbofan engine.
Internal Weapons Bay: Maintains stealth while carrying AIM-120 AMRAAMs, GBU-32 JDAMs, and other precision munitions.
Advanced Avionics & Sensor Fusion: Integrates data from multiple sensors for superior situational awareness.
Helmet Mounted Display System (HMDS): Projects critical flight data onto the pilot’s visor.
Glass Cockpit: Touchscreen displays for mission management and navigation.
Durable Airframe: Reinforced structure to withstand the stresses of catapult launches and arrested landings.
Greater Range and Endurance: Designed for extended combat radius to support carrier strike operations.

History & Development

Performance & Operations

History & Development

Joint Strike Fighter Program: Designed to replace legacy F/A-18 Hornets and A-6 Intruders for the U.S. Navy.
Contract Awarded to Lockheed Martin: Selected in 2001 over Boeing's X-32.
First Flight in 2010: Demonstrated carrier-specific features like the folding wingtips.
First Carrier Trials in 2014: Successfully completed catapult launches and arrested landings on the USS Nimitz.
Entered Service in 2019: With the U.S. Navy, offering stealth and multi-role capability.
Challenges & Enhancements: Faced delays due to tailhook design issues but later resolved with a redesigned system.
Global Deployment: Deployed on U.S. Navy supercarriers and integrated into allied naval forces.

Performance & Operations

Performance & Operations

Performance & Operations

Top Speed of Mach 1.6: Capable of supersonic flight for rapid engagement and interception.
Combat Radius: Approximately 600 nautical miles, optimized for long-range carrier strike missions.
Payload Capacity: Carries up to 18,000 pounds of ordnance using internal and external weapon stations.
Enhanced Agility: Advanced aerodynamics and fly-by-wire controls for superior maneuverability.
AN/APG-81 AESA Radar: Long-range detection and tracking of multiple targets.
Distributed Aperture System (DAS): 360-degree infrared situational awareness for missile warning and navigation.
Carrier Operations: Specifically designed for catapult launches and arrested landings on U.S. Navy aircraft carriers.
Network-Centric Warfare: Real-time data sharing with allied forces for coordinated naval operations.