The F-35 is a fifth-generation, single-engine supersonic fighter jet equipped with stealth technology. It is the second stealth fighter to enter U.S. military service, doing so in 2006, and is the first supersonic stealth fighter of the U.S. The F-35 excels in low-altitude reconnaissance, featuring new sensors that enable timely situational awareness and response, combined with long-range strike capabilities. It flies farther than fourth-generation fighters, which consume more fuel, and serves as the primary aircraft for the U.S. Air Force's Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) operations. Since its induction in 2006, the U.S. government has delivered 750 units, with at least 8 crashes reported (equivalent to 1 crash per 100 exported units, all occurring during training flights). In the Indo-Pacific region, only Australia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore have purchased and deployed the F-35 in their air forces; these nations have long been under U.S. influence, effectively acting under Washington's guidance behind the scenes.
How many variants does the Lockheed Martin F-35 A Lightning II have?
The F-35A is designed for conventional takeoff and landing on standard airport runways. It was the variant the Royal Thai Air Force initially intended to purchase but fortunately switched to the JAS-39E.
The F-35B is designed for vertical takeoff and landing operations from aircraft carriers or other missions without conventional runways. The F-35C is specifically built for aircraft carrier operations and has larger wings than the other variants.
The F-35C is specifically designed for carrier operations and features larger wings compared to the other models.
The F-35's structure is modeled after the F-22, using composite materials for 35% of its frame weight. The lightest variant has an empty weight of 29,300 pounds (13,300 kilograms). It is smaller than the twin-engine F-22 Raptor. Its exhaust nozzle design was inspired by the 1972 General Dynamics Model 200, a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. For developing the special vertical takeoff and landing F-35B, Lockheed consulted with the Yakovlev design bureau, purchasing designs from their Yak-141 development.
Advancements beyond current fighter jets include:
Stealth technology combined with integrated electronic systems and sensors sharing data from both external sources and onboard equipment enhances pilot situational awareness, target identification, weapon deployment, and rapid communication with command centers. The aircraft uses a high-speed data network (IEEE 1394) and fiber optic channels. Unlike newer fighters that cannot carry large external fuel tanks, the F-35 requires significant fuel but lacks leading-edge extensions; instead, it features large, uniquely shaped wings similar to the SR-71 Blackbird, allowing greater fuel storage compared to fourth-generation fighters.
Cockpit
The F-35's standout feature is its large display screen measuring 28 by 8 inches in diameter. It includes voice recognition designed to enhance usability beyond typical aircraft. It is the first U.S. fixed-wing aircraft to use this system, although similar systems exist in the AV-8B and F-16 Vista. Developed by Adacel Systems, pilots fly using a right-hand control stick and left-hand throttle.
A helmet-mounted display is standard across all F-35 variants. Helmets equipped with target-tracking cameras are also used in F-15, F-16, and F/A-18 fighters. While some fighters combine such helmets with heads-up displays (HUDs), the F-35 marks the first time in decades that a frontline fighter operates without a HUD.
The Martin-Baker US16E ejection seat is used in all F-35 models. The US16E balances operational performance and safety, accounting for environmental limits and pilot weight and size. It employs a dual-handle ejection system located at the rear.
Engine
The F-35's main engine is the Pratt & Whitney F135. The General Electric/Rolls-Royce F136 was under development as an alternative option. The vertical takeoff and landing variants use Rolls-Royce lift systems similar to Russia's YAK-141 and Germany's VJ 101D/E. Subsequent vertical takeoff aircraft, like the Harrier Jump Jet, utilize Rolls-Royce Pegasus engine fans because designing a single large fan capable of both low-speed lift and supersonic thrust is challenging.
The lift system includes a lift fan, drive shaft, two swivel mounts, and the 3BSM (3 Bearing Swivel Module). The 3BSM is a movable exhaust nozzle allowing the main engine's exhaust to be directed downward near the tail. The front lift fan balances thrust, powered by a low-pressure engine through the drive shaft and gearbox. Slow-speed yaw control switches air from the low-pressure engine through wing-mounted roll posts with movable exhaust ducts.
The F-35B's lift fan encounters flow multiplier effects similar to the Harrier. The additional lift structures increase weight during horizontal flight but enhance vertical lift capability. The fan's cool exhaust reduces heat and high-velocity airflow downward during vertical takeoff, minimizing damage to runways and carrier decks. Despite complexity and risks, the lift system has passed testing.
Currently, the F-136 engine development consumes significant funding. Due to reductions in aircraft production and value adjustments, the F-136 team claims their engine experiences greater temperature differentials, posing challenges for vertical flight in hot climates.
Weapons system
The F-35 features an internal GAU-22/A 25mm four-barrel rotary cannon. The F-35A houses the gun internally with 180 rounds; the F-35B and C carry an additional 220 rounds in internal pods. The gun pods on the B and C variants are retractable for stealth and can be adapted for future equipment.
The aircraft can carry two air-to-air missiles and two air-to-ground weapons (two 2,000-pound bombs for the A and C variants, two 1,000-pound bombs for the B). It can also deploy AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-132 ASRAAM, and small-diameter bombs—up to four per weapons bay. Brimstone missiles and cluster munitions are also compatible. The MBDA Meteor air-to-air missile supplements the weapons bay. The U.K. originally planned to fit four AIM-132s internally but changed to two inside and two externally. Weapon bays are modified to hold up to six AMRAAMs.
Any external attachments such as missiles, bombs, or fuel tanks reduce stealth by increasing radar signature. Only two wingtip stations can carry AIM-9X missiles; other hardpoints support AIM-120 AMRAAM, Storm Shadow AGM-158 JASSM guided bombs, and 480 or 600-gallon fuel tanks. Internally, the bays can carry eight AIM-120s and two AIM-9s. This payload capacity exceeds that of other fighters, including the F-22 Raptor.
Accidents involving the F-35 Lightning II aircraft
September 2018 – An F-35B crashed near a naval base in South Carolina. The pilot ejected safely. Investigation found a fuel tank defect caused the crash, marking the first F-35 crash.
April 2019 – A Japanese F-35 crashed into the northern Pacific Ocean at speeds of up to 1,100 km/h, killing the pilot. This was the second crash of this model.
May 2020 – A U.S. Air Force F-35A crashed at a base in Florida. The pilot ejected safely.
September 2020 – A U.S. Air Force F-35A crashed during landing. The pilot ejected safely. Investigations attributed the crash to pilot condition and some aircraft defects.
November 2021 – A U.K. Royal Air Force F-35 crashed into the sea after a mission from the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier.
January 2022 – A South Korean F-35A made an emergency landing with landing gear malfunction, sliding along the ground. Investigation found a bird strike caused engine issues but did not specify why landing gear failed to deploy.
January 2022 – A U.S. Navy F-35C crashed into the South China Sea after a landing accident aboard the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier. Recovery took approximately three months.
(Source: BBC Thaihttps://www.bbc.com/thai/articles/ce49y3x4q3do)
Nine countries currently operate the F-35 in missions: the U.S., U.K., Italy, Australia, Norway, the Netherlands, Israel, Japan, and South Korea.
Meanwhile, Russia's Su-35, with radar capable of detecting F-22 and F-35, is among the best 4+ generation fighters available, priced at around 85 million U.S. dollars for a high-performance aircraft.
The U.S. originally planned for the F-35 to outperform the F-16 and gradually retire the F-16 fleet. However, the F-35 remains unstable operationally due to numerous defects during missions. Plans have been made to refurbish the F-16, which is cheaper and less maintenance-intensive than the F-35.
One major failure of the F-35 is that, although designed as a stealth aircraft, it cannot send enemy data back to its base without revealing its own location. Once it transmits information, its position becomes detectable, risking enemy interception.
After inspections, American aerospace engineers found over 700 unresolved problems with the F-35. Even now, fixes remain incomplete as the government lacks the budget to address all issues.
The U.S. government has acknowledged that investing in the F-35 program was a complete failure.
Amid widespread doubts about the F-35's performance, the U.K. government reduced its original order from 138 to just 48 aircraft, citing lack of funds.
Ongoing unresolved defects have led to frequent accidents involving the F-35. The U.S., Japanese, and British air forces have all experienced crashes, with casualties including pilot deaths.
South Korea faced similar issues; on 6 January 2022, its government grounded the entire F-35 fleet due to landing gear malfunctions (nose gear failing to deploy) pending investigation. There were 234 reported problems, with 64 incidents grounding planes due to multiple faults. The failure and operational unavailability rates are surprisingly higher than older fighters. South Korea spent a significant military budget—about 400 billion baht—to purchase 60 F-35s.
The U.S. claims the F-35 is stealthy and undetectable by radar. However, during an airshow in Germany, a private German radar company successfully tracked the F-35 despite U.S. stealth claims. Russian military radar can also detect the F-35, especially the S-300 PM-2 air defense missile radar, which can spot it at long ranges without requiring newer systems like the S-400, S-500, or S-550. In other words, Russian radar can detect it early and respond immediately. (Source: Thairath https://www.thaipost.net/general-news/63453/) Currently, the Royal Thai Air Force is filled with aging fighters like the F-5 and F-16 awaiting retirement. Therefore, acquiring the new Saab JAS 39 Gripen E is essential to strengthen Thailand’s air defense and deter adversaries. Choosing an aircraft with proven performance, reasonable maintenance costs, and reliable combat operation like the Gripen E is more suitable than investing in troubled aircraft like the F-35.