Hello everyone. Welcome back to Military TV. You might have been familiar with the F-35
fighter jet. This stealth fighter has proved to be a 21st century masterpiece, intended to thrive in
aerial combat and overcome enemies’ most advanced aerial defense systems. However, there are a few
things you should know about the particular F-35C variant American stealth aircraft.
1. It brings stealth to the sea. Being the fifth-generation American fighter jet,
which is critical to its supersonic speed, long range, and high maneuverability, the F-35C is the
world’s first and only long-range stealth attack aircraft that was developed and manufactured
specifically for Navy carrier missions. The F-35C’s design, incorporated sensors,
internal fuel and weapons capacity, aligned edges, and cutting-edge manufacturing techniques all
contribute to its distinctive Very Low Observable stealth capability. This allows pilots to operate
in contested and anti-access areas while avoiding enemy detection with high lethality.
2. It boasts the most sophisticated and extensive sensor suite of any fighter jet ever built.
The F-35C’s stealth capabilities, as well as its powerful surveillance, electronic warfare,
and reconnaissance capabilities, round out the package. The Active Electronically Scanned
Arrays (AESA) radar, Distributed Aperture System (DAS), Electro Optical Targeting System (EOTS),
and Helmet Mounted Display System are those main stealth features built on this fighter.
Its active electronically scanned array radar is the world’s most advanced and powerful radar,
capable of providing long-range intelligence to assist a wide range of air-to-air and
air-to-surface operations. With technology of electro optical targeting system that
combines forward-looking infrared (FLIR) and infrared search and track system (IRST),
the jet can fly without any radar signature and has a superior lock on stealth targets.
This is supplemented by distributed aperture system, which enables the pilot to see through
the aircraft using external cameras linked to pilot’s helmet mounted display system,
a special feature only F-35C has. As a result, the pilot has unmatched situational awareness in the
battlespace, which leads to improved accuracy, aircrew effectiveness, and survivability.
3. It works as a force multiplier. The F-35C can serve as an intelligence,
surveillance, and reconnaissance capability as well as a combat manager. This is mainly
due to its superior network centric warfare capability, which allows it to exchange data
with a broad range of other units, including warships and air defenses, providing F-35C pilot
a greater understanding of their battle zone than any other military aircraft. The fighter
can gather targeting data from a variety of sources, merge it into a single channel,
and utilize it to engage targets from such a long distance that they may not even realize
the F-35C is there. Data collection, analysis, and sharing of the F-35C are critical force
multipliers in battlespace, advancing aerial, surface, and ground-based capabilities. Hence,
this guarantees that men and women in military can carry out their missions and return home safely.
4. It has range as well as mission persistence. The F-35C carries over 20,000 pounds of internal
fuel and has an effective range of more than 1,200 nautical miles. This allows F-35C pilots
to fly further and stay in a targeted battlespace for a longer period of time before refuelling.
5. It boasts the widest wingspan and the toughest landing gear of any F-35 model.
The F-35C’s wings and landing gear are designed to allow for catapult
launches and fly-in arrestments on navy aircraft carriers. Its wingtips
also fold to provide additional space on the carrier’s deck when deployed.
6. It travels at supersonic speeds. The F-35 can achieve speeds of 1.6 Mach or
around 1,200 miles per hour at an operational range of 900 nautical miles as well as a combat
radius of 518 miles. Even with a full load of internal weapons and fuel, the F-35C
can fly faster with no drag associated with vintage fighters’ external tanks and weaponry.
7. It can carry both internal and external weaponry.
Although some might argue that the F-35C has less weaponry, it in fact can carry more than
5,000 pounds of weapons internally in the stealth configuration or more than
18,000 pounds of total ordnance both internally and externally in permitted
circumstances. Therefore, this enables the Navy to operate under stealth when needed,
or to maximize lethality with extra armaments externally when the airspace is permitted.
8. It is the massive system used by the US Navy, with procurement plan of 273 units.
The Navy’s F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter is stationed at Naval Air Station Lemoore. This is
because according to a report issued by the Navy Thursday and The Sentinel, Naval Air
Station Lemoore is the preferred location to house this Navy’s latest-generation aircraft,
transitioning seven aging Lemoore-based FA-18 Hornet squadrons in 2015 with 70 aircraft being
replaced by 2028. The Navy plans to procure 273 F-35Cs, a carrier-suitable CTOL version
of the aircraft. The Navy plans in the future to operate carrier air wings featuring a combination
of F/A-18E/Fs (which the Navy has been procuring since FY1997) and F-35Cs. The F35C is to be the
Navy’s first aircraft designed for stealth, a contrast with the Air Force, which has operated
stealthy bombers and fighters for decades. On the other hand, the US Marine Corps is obtaining
F-35C aircraft along with their F-35BSs. The Marines will procure 67 F-35Cs. The F-35C is
also known as the “CV” version of the F-35, which is the naval designation for aircraft carrier.
According to Congressional Research Service (CRS) in May 2022, the F-35 program received
approximately $9.4 billion in procurement funds in the Administration’s proposed
FY2022 defense budget. This would cover the purchase of 48 F-35As for the Air Force,
17 F-35Bs for the Marine Corps, and 20 F-35Cs for the Navy and Marine Corps,
as well as future aircraft acquisition and ongoing modifications. In addition,
about $2.1 billion was asked in the projected budget for F-35 research and development.
9. The F-35 is built by thousands of men and women in the US and across the world.
Lockheed Martin heads the F-35 industry team, which also includes Northrop Grumman,
BAE Systems, and Pratt & Whitney. The program is supervised by the
Department of Defense’s F-35 Joint Program Office with more than 1,900
contractors in 48 states and more than ten countries help to create and support it.
That’s all what you need to know about the advanced F-35C
stealth fighter jet. Thanks for watching and see you next time.