Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II

The Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II is the carrier‑based variant of the Joint Strike Fighter programme, developed to replace legacy naval aircraft such as the F‑14 Tomcat and A‑6 Intruder. Initiated in the early 2000s, the F‑35 program combined the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Netherlands, Australia, Norway, Denmark and Turkey, with Lockheed Martin as the prime contractor. The C model entered service with the U.S. Navy in 2019 after extensive flight testing that demonstrated its ability to launch from and land on aircraft carriers using a reinforced wing structure, larger tailhook, and fold‑able wings for deck storage. It carries the most advanced sensor‑fusion suite in any fighter, integrating radar, infrared and electronic‑warfare data into a single pilot display, while the Pratt & Whitney F135‑P engine provides supersonic cruise and short take‑off capability. Its stealth shaping and low‑observability coatings enable penetration of dense air defenses. The F‑35C’s multirole capacity—air‑to‑air, strike, and intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance—makes it a cornerstone of modern naval power, shaping the future of carrier aviation and joint operations worldwide. The aircraft also supports allied interoperability through common data links and can be upgraded with emerging weapons such as hypersonic missiles, ensuring its relevance for decades.

Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II

Classification

Design & Classification