✈️ Overview
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Variants:
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F‑35A – conventional takeoff/landing for the Air Force.
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F‑35B – short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) for Marines.
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F‑35C – carrier-capable (CATOBAR) for the Navy (en.wikipedia.org).
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In service since 2015–19, with over 1,170 units built as of May 2025 (en.wikipedia.org).
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Capabilities: stealth, supersonic (up to Mach 1.6), multirole—covering air-to-air, strike, electronic warfare, and ISR tasks (howmet.com).
🧰 Key Technical Specs (approximate / variant-specific)
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Crew: 1
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Length: ~15.7 m, Wingspan: 10.7 m (A/B), 13.1 m (C) (airpra.com)
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Engine: Pratt & Whitney F135 turbofan (~43,000 lbf with afterburner) (airpra.com)
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Range: internal ~770 mi; combat ~1,367 km (A/C), ~1,056 km (B) (airpra.com)
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Ceiling: ~15,000 m (50,000 ft); can sustain +9g maneuvers (airpra.com)
🛡️ Stealth & Armament
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Internal bays: Hosts 4 stations; external hardpoints offered when stealth is less critical (en.wikipedia.org).
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Weapons: Supports AIM-120/260, AIM-9X missiles, JDAMs, SDBs, StormBreaker, JASSM, AARGM-ER, even B61 nukes; six-missile bay capability emerging in Lot 15 aircraft (en.wikipedia.org).
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Safety systems: Auto-GCAS prevents ground collisions; awarded Collier Trophy in 2018 (en.wikipedia.org).
🚀 Ongoing Upgrades & Testing
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TR‑3 Software Refresh: Boosts processing, displays, cyber resilience; fielded 100+ jets, operational testing begins ~mid-2026 (defensenews.com).
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Block 4 Enhancements: Incoming this summer—adds sensors, advanced EW, weapon integration (e.g., SDB-II, AARGM‑ER) (defensenews.com).
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Cooling system overhaul: Tests underway to support next-gen upgrades, with implementation by ~2032 (breakingdefense.com).
🌐 Operational Status & Cohesion
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Combat ready: F‑35A achieved IOC in 2016; fleet hit 1 million flight hours globally in early 2025 (defense.gov).
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Mission synergy: Proven as data nodes—e.g., fed targeting to NATO artillery in Netherlands, showing cross-domain coordination (businessinsider.com).
📉 Budget & Procurement Trends
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Pentagon proposal: Halved FY2026 Air Force aircraft request—from 48 to 24 jets; Navy and Marines also cut (reuters.com).
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Congress pushback: Defense appropriators eye funding for 69 F‑35s, exceeding Defense Dept’s ask (reuters.com).
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Industry impact: Lockheed Martin shares dipped ~7% on news of cuts (businessinsider.com).
🤖 Future Outlook
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Pilot‑optional vision: Lockheed CEO says F‑35 could operate autonomously or semi-autonomously in 2–3 years, supporting teaming with drones and next-gen platforms (businessinsider.com).
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Global interest: Portugal, UK, Italy, Canada eyeing pilot-optional or future stealth jets; some looking for alternatives due to autonomy concerns (apnews.com).
🔎 Summary
The F‑35 remains a top-tier, stealth multirole platform continuously evolving through software and hardware upgrades. Despite procurement slowdowns, it's gaining battlefield momentum and gearing up for advanced autonomous cooperation in future combat scenarios.
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