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Air ForcesUnited States

F-35A Lightning II

Multirole fighter (CTOL)In serviceFielded 2016Pending verification

Also known as: F-35, JSF

Air ForcesUSA
F-35A Lightning II
Photo: Airman 1st Class Alexander Cook · Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Fact cardConfidence · Source
System
TypeMultirole fighter (CTOL)
Alternative designationsF-35, JSF
Date of introduction2016
ProliferationOrigin country only
Crew1High[1]
Flight performance
SpeedMach 1.6About 1,200 mphHigh[2]
Combat radius1,093 km679 mi · 590 nmiMore than 590 nmi, USAF profile, internal fuelHigh[2]
Range2,200 km1,367 mi · 1,188 nmiMore than 1,200 nmi, USAF profileHigh[2]
Service ceiling15,240 m50,000 ftAbove 50,000 ft. af.mil blocked the automated check on 3 Oct 2026; confirm against the fact sheet.High[1]
G limit9 gHigh[2]
Armament and payload
Payload8,160 kg17,990 lbInternal weapons payload, 18,000 lbHigh[2]
Weapons and payload options · 4Confidence · Source
GAU-22/A cannonInternal 25 mm gun
High[2]
Quantity
1 internal
AIM-120C/D AMRAAMAir-to-air missile
High[2]
Quantity
2 internal (standard load)
GBU-31 JDAM2,000-lb GPS-guided bomb
High[2]
Quantity
2 internal (standard load)
External stationsNon-stealth configuration
Med[3]
Quantity
6 wing stations

Up to 22,000 lb on 10 stations (2 internal bays plus wing)

Summary

Conventional takeoff and landing variant of the F-35, the U.S. Air Force's fifth-generation multirole fighter.

Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.
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Operators
United States
Sources
  1. F-35A Lightning II fact sheet, U.S. Air Force
    Tier 1 · checked 2026-10-03
  2. F-35 Fast Facts, Lockheed Martin
    Published/updated 2021-04-01 · Tier 1 · checked 2026-10-03
  3. F-35 Lightning II, Air & Space Forces Magazine
    Published/updated 2026-06-16 · Tier 3 · checked 2026-10-03
Change log
  • 2026-10-03 Initial draft entry from cited open sources
  • 2026-10-03 Added payload options and capabilities
  • 2026-10-04 Added photo (Public domain)