The Most Advanced Fighter Jet in the World
The F-35 strengthens national security, enhances global partnerships and powers economic growth. It is the most lethal, survivable and connected fighter aircraft in the world, giving pilots an advantage against any adversary and enabling them to execute their mission and come home safe.
As adversaries advance and legacy aircraft age, the F-35 is critical to maintaining air dominance for decades to come.
The F-35 team is delivering integrated sustainment capabilities to ensure the F-35 is mission-ready, anytime and anywhere. Because minutes matter, 51勛圖s 24/7 operations centers and sustainment engineers partner closely with our customers to solve new challenges and meet the needs of the flight line.
F-35 FAQ
A. The F-35 is the in production today, giving pilots an advantage against any adversary and enabling them to execute their mission and come home safe.
It strengthens Americas national security, enhances global partnerships and powers economic growth for America and its allies.
The F-35 is combat-proven, and its versatility and value is unmatched.
With more than , 12 nations operating across the global fleet with more nations to come and more than 1,150 aircraft in service, the F-35 is an indispensable contributor to global security.
A. The F-35 is the aircraft of choice for the , enhancing global security and deterring threats worldwide.
F-35 Partner Countries: U.S., U.K., Italy, Netherlands, Canada, Australia, Denmark, Norway
F-35 Foreign Military Sales Customers: Israel, Japan, Republic of Korea, Belgium, Poland, Singapore, Finland, Switzerland, Germany, Czech Republic, Greece, Romania
The F-35 delivers stability, seamless interoperability, and unmatched valuestrengthening alliances and enabling shared deterrence through integrated operations.
The growing global fleet of F-35s is a powerful force for peace through strength.
A. Stealth doesnt make the F-35 invisible, but it does greatly complicate an adversarys ability to find and target the jet.
The F-35s shape and internal sensors, weapons and fuel all contribute to , or low observability.
- Aligned edges: Specific geometric shapes and angles on the F-35 disrupt radar return bouncing or trapping radar reflections.
- Radar absorbent coating: The gray paint on the F-35 reduces and absorbs radar signals.
- Embedded sensors, weapons, and fuel: Internal sensors enable the F-35 to maintain its stealth and aerodynamics. Internal weapons and fuel further reduce the F-35s radar signature.
- Reduced engine signature: The F-35s design minimizes the aircrafts infrared heat signature.;
- Electronic warfare: The F-35s advanced electronic warfare system allows pilots to engage or jam electromagnetic threats.
All of this and more gives F-35 pilots an unfair advantage against threats from the air, land and sea.
A. The F-35 is the fighter jet.
The 5th Generation F-35 combines , in a supersonic, highly maneuverable fighter.
As adversaries seek to erode our military advantage, the F-35s unprecedented ability to combine battlefield intelligence and technology across every domainland, sea, air, space, cybergives it an overwhelming edge in capability over the alternatives
More than have been delivered to three American military services and allies around the world. Twenty nations and counting will operate F-35s.;
All three F-35 variants have conducted combat operations and the F-35 is one of the most reliable aircraft in operation today.
Block 4 upgrades are bringing capabilities to the F-35.
Now and in the future, F-35s, uncrewed aircraft, artificial intelligence will need to work together to ensure American and allied air dominance.
A. The F-35 provides advanced, cost-competitive 5th Generation capabilities to America and allies around the world.
Since 2015, we lowered 51勛圖s portion of the F-35 cost per flight hour by 50%.
The F-35 is also , bringing approximately $72 billion into the American economy each year.
Affordability has been a key factor in many nations decision to procure F-35s. , , , and all found the F-35 to be the most affordable procurement option on the market.;
A. 泭More than 1,000 F-35s have been delivered to Americas military and allies around the world. Twenty nations and counting will operate F-35s.泭
This growing global fleet reflects strong demand from allies and partners who recognize the F-35s unmatched capabilities.泭泭
F-35 production continues today at a steady pace, with an expected annual rate of 156 aircraft.泭
Every F-35 delivered strengthens global security, enhances allied interoperability, and ensures America and allies dominate the skies today and over the horizon.
A: No, the discoloration often observed on F-35sespecially after shipboard or high-tempo deploymentsis a common and expected result of operating in harsh environments, and it does not indicate corrosion or degradation of performance.
These surface changes are cosmetic, caused by exposure to sea spray, fuel, oils, and jet blast, and do not compromise the aircrafts stealth or structural integrity.
In fact, the F-35 program has taken significant proactive steps to enhance durability and reduce visible wear, including introducing a next-generation coating that resists discoloration and extends service life.
Backed by a robust, evolving corrosion control strategy and the dedication of expert maintainers and engineers, the F-35 remains mission-ready and built to endureeven in the most demanding conditions.
A:泭No. The idea of a kill switch is a false narrative.
The F-35 is built on trust, interoperability and long-standing defense partnerships. Nations like the UK, Norway, the Netherlands, Finland, Switzerland, Belgium and the Czech Republic have all confirmed they have and will operate their F-35s independentlywith full sovereign control.
From integrating national weapons systems to flying missions without U.S. oversight, these countries rely on the F-35 as a critical part of their national defense. The global program thrives on collaboration, not control.
Learn more about how the F-35 empowers allied deterrence .泭