The F-35 Lightning II is widely regarded as the world’s most modern fighter jet in the world.
The jet, built by US manufacturer Lockheed Martin, is considered more than just a fighter aircraft.
It is essentially an armed computer with a jet engine that can network with other aircraft in
the air as well as ground forces, processing thousands of pieces of information every second.
In early April, it was reported that the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II had reached
500,000 flight hours across global operations, confirming the progress and continued maturity
of the program. The fifth-generation multirole fighter is presently in use at 25 sites and nine
ships throughout the world. Its interoperability has also made it important to the United States,
allies, and partner countries, and it will continue to do so for years to come.
Even though its critics have targeted at the F-35, it is still considered as the best jet ever.
Here are five reasons why it is regarded as the best fighter on the planet.
First, this jet is a Joint Strike Fighter with three planes in one
The F-35 was developed to perform what no single aircraft could perform and have a role as a “Joint
Strike Fighter,” it was intended to replace the United States Air Force’s A-10 and F-16,
the United State Navy’s F/A-18, and the United States Marine Corps F/A-18 and AV-8B Harrier.
The single-engine, the single-seat plane is quite unique in that it can operate
just like a conventional take-off and landing for the Air Force, while the Navy’s version was built
to operate from an aircraft carrier. Moreover, The F-35B is a short-take-off or vertical-landing
fighter used by the US Marine Corps, as well as the UK’s Royal Air Force and Royal Navy.
The F-35 is now the backbone of allied airpower for several countries, including the US, UK,
Australia, Italy, Japan, Israel, the Netherlands, Norway, and South Korea.
While Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, and Thailand have also
placed orders and expressed an interest in taking to the skies with this plane.
Second, this jet has an amazing range and speed As a fifth-generation fighter, the F-35 Lightning
II is fitted with advanced stealth capabilities, along with improved agility and manoeuvrability,
as well as enhanced sensor and information fusion, network-enabled operations, and sustainment.
All this puts the F-35 among the world’s most advanced multi-role fighters flying today.
This jet is powered by F135-PW-100 engines that generate 40,000 pounds of maximum propulsion.
The combat aircraft can achieve speed of Mach 1.6 and has a range of 1,200 nautical miles.
The F135-PW-100, Like the F-35, was developed with two variants,
the CTOL version used in the F-35A and F-35C, and a two-cycle STOVL model for the F-35B,
that features a forward lift fan. Even with its internal fuel and a full internal weapons load,
this jet can still fly faster as opposed to previous aircraft' external tanks and weaponry.
Third, this aircraft is considered as a 21st century warbird
The F-35C is the first and world’s only long-range stealth strike fighter designed
and built explicitly for Navy carrier operations. It’s configuration, embedded sensors, internal
fuel and weapons capacity, aligned edges, and state of the art manufacturing processes
all contribute to the F-35’s unique Very Low Observable stealth performance. This enables
pilots to evade enemy detection and operate in anti-access and contested environments, improving
lethality and survivability. The F-35 features advanced electronic warfare (EW) capabilities
that allow pilots to locate and track enemy forces like no other combat aircraft in the world today.
In addition, the pilots can jam radars and disrupt threats,
while advanced avionics provides the pilot with real-time access to battlespace information.
That includes 360-degree coverage of the tactical environment – and data collected by the fighter’s
sensors can be shared with commanders at sea, in the air, or on the ground. The real-time data
of the combat situation makes the F-35 a true force multiplier during coalition operations.
Fourth, this jet is invisible to enemies. During training exercises, the F-35 typically
defeats adversary aircraft at a rate of better than 20-to-1.
It would do the same in wartime against Russian or Chinese fighters because it was designed to absorb
or deflect radar energy, so opposing pilots can’t notice it before they are shot down.
In addition, F-35 is equipped with an advanced jamming system that tricks or suppresses hostile
radars, both in the air and on the ground. Enemy radars may detect anything far away,
but they can’t track it or target it. Also, F-35’s powerful turbofan
engine masks and dissipates heat before heat-seeking missiles can target it.
Fifth, it is worth every penny
The expense of the F-35 remains the platform’s primary complaint among critics.
Undoubtedly, it will go down in history as the most expensive weapons system ever developed,
costing upwards of $1.508 trillion for the life of the program. The F-35, on the other hand,
are expected to remain in service until the 2070s and it’s worth noting that the dollar estimates
are also refer to 2070 dollars, which should be taken into account. While $1.5 trillion is a large
sum of money, it is worth noting that the F-35 will replace a large number of older aircraft,
and its capabilities well exceed those of current fourth-generation planes.
Many analysts have argued that operating fewer types of aircraft is also more cost-effective,
and the F-35 can streamline training operations and require fewer suppliers both of which have
financial benefits. Finally, potential enemies are also building fifth-generation aircraft,
and the F-35 is the ideal platform for ensuring that we are not outgunned in the skies.
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