F-35B STOVL Lightning II
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F-35B STVOL Lightning II Multirole fighter aircraft
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The F-35B Lightning II is the world's first operational fifth-generation multirole stealth fighter to combine low-observable technology, supersonic performance and Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) capability within a single aircraft. This unique combination enables the F-35B to operate from amphibious assault ships, light aircraft carriers, short runways and austere forward operating bases where conventional fighter aircraft cannot be deployed. Powered by the Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-600 engine integrated with the Rolls-Royce LiftSystem, the F-35B provides expeditionary forces with advanced air superiority, precision strike, close air support, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), and electronic warfare capabilities. Its ability to deploy close to front-line combat zones reduces the distance between operating bases and target areas, increasing sortie generation while reducing dependence on large fixed air bases and extensive logistics infrastructure. The aircraft has become a key component of the expeditionary aviation doctrine of the United States Marine Corps and is also operated by the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan, supporting both NATO and Indo-Pacific security operations. Japan continues to expand the operational role of the F-35B as part of its southwestern island defense strategy. On 29 July 2025, the Japanese Ministry of Defense announced the deployment of its first F-35B Lightning II fighters to the country's southern region from 7 August 2025. On 7 February 2026, Japan confirmed the first permanent deployment of F-35B aircraft at Nyutabaru Air Base, strengthening its capability to operate from dispersed air bases and Izumo-class aircraft carriers converted for F-35B oµperations. |
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| Technical Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Design | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II is a fifth-generation multirole stealth fighter featuring a Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) configuration developed for operations from amphibious assault ships, aircraft carriers, and austere forward bases. The aircraft has an overall length of 15.6 m, a wingspan of 10.7 m, and a height of 4.4 m, with a wing area of 42.7 m². Its low-observable airframe incorporates radar-absorbent materials, serrated panel edges, and internally housed weapon bays to reduce radar signature. The F-35B's distinctive Rolls-Royce LiftSystem, consisting of a lift fan, three-bearing swivel nozzle, and wing-mounted roll posts, enables vertical landing and short take-off operations while maintaining supersonic flight performance. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| The F-35B carries its primary weapons internally to preserve stealth characteristics, with additional external hardpoints available when maximum payload is required. Internal armament includes combinations of AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-9X Sidewinder, GBU-31/32 JDAM, GBU-12 Paveway II, GBU-53/B StormBreaker, and other precision-guided munitions. In non-stealth missions, the aircraft can carry a total external and internal payload of up to 6,800 kg. Unlike the F-35A, the F-35B does not have an internal cannon but can be equipped with the GAU-22/A 25 mm four-barrel cannon housed in an external gun pod containing approximately 220 rds. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Engine and Flight Capabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| The F-35B is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-600 afterburning turbofan producing approximately 191 kN of thrust with afterburner. Combined with the integrated Rolls-Royce LiftSystem, the propulsion system enables conventional supersonic flight together with STOVL capability. The F-35B reaches a maximum speed of approximately Mach 1.6 (around 1,930 km/h at altitude) and has a combat radius of about 830 km, while its ferry range exceeds 2,200 km with internal fuel. The service ceiling is approximately 15,000 m, and the aircraft supports aerial refueling to extend operational endurance. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Avionics and Onboard Equipment
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| The F-35B is equipped with an advanced integrated mission system centered on the Northrop Grumman AN/APG-81 AESA fire-control radar and comprehensive sensor fusion software. Additional onboard systems include the AN/AAQ-37 Distributed Aperture System (DAS), AN/AAQ-40 Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS), and AN/ASQ-239 Barracuda electronic warfare suite for radar warning, electronic support, and self-protection. Secure communications are provided through MADL and Link 16, enabling network-centric operations with allied platforms. The cockpit features a 50.8 cm panoramic touchscreen display, a helmet-mounted display system (HMDS), advanced mission computers, and fully digital fly-by-wire flight controls that provide exceptional situational awareness and reduce pilot workload. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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