F-35 LIGHTENING II AND THE JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER PROGRAM

F-35 Lightening II and its Involvement In The Joint Strike Fighter Program

F-35 Lightening II And Its Involvement In The Joint Strike Fighter Program

Lockheed Martin has developed the most advanced painting facility in the world. It was created for one single purpose and mission: To make the F-35 Lighting II almost invisible to radar. The facility uses a low observable painting process using laser guides to apply radar absorbent composites to joint strike fighter. The robotic laser guides and paint guns use an infra-red grid to triangulate their position in relation to the aircraft. Original post inspiration credit Gizmodo. Video courtesy of Lockheed Martin

The Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), is currently under development by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company for the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, and the UK Royal Navy. (Reed, 2010) The fighter invisible, supersonic multi-role, will receive the designation F-35. The JSF will be built in three variants: a conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL - Conventional Take-off and landing) for the U.S. Air Force embarked on a version (CV - carrier variant) for the U.S. Navy, and a take-off short and vertical landing (STOVL - short take-off and vertical landing) for the Marine Corps and the Royal Navy. All variants must have characteristics common to at least 70 to 90%. (Reed, 2010)

F-35C taking off

The F-35A ground attack fighter designed to replace F-16 and A-10 USAF

The requests are as follows: USAF F-35A - aircraft for ground attack, which would replace the F-16 and A-10, and support the forces of F-22 (1763); USMC F-35B - hunting 's STOVL attack intended to replace the AV-8B and F/A-18B/C (480); UK RN F-35C - STOVL strike fighter to replace the Sea Harriers (60), U.S. Navy F-35C - hunting attack first-day-of-war that should replace F/A-18B/C and A-6, and support forces F/A-18E/F (480 aircraft). (Whitlock, 2010)

In January 2001, the UK MOD has signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in the SDD (System Development and Demonstration), and the JSF, in September 2002, has selected the STOVL variant to meet the demands of a FJCA (Future Joint Combat Aircraft). Then other nations have signed a contract to participate in the SDD phase: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore and Turkey. The demonstration program began in 1996 with the signing of the contract by two consortia, led by Boeing Aerospace and Lockheed Martin. The contracts consist of the construction of JSF demonstrators in three different configurations, one of the two consortia will be selected for the development and production of all variants.

The F-35C variant embarked (CV) for the U.S. Navy

The F-35B short takeoff and landing variant for the U.S. Marine Corps vertical and Royal Navy.

The F-35C naval variant has a stronger internal structure to withstand the takeoffs and landings on aircraft carriers

The larger wings of the F-35C naval increase the autonomy and capacity

In October 2001, an international team led by Lockheed Martin has signed a contract for the production of the ...