Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II - F-35A, F-35B, & F-35C

[Nostalgistic 312]

F-35 Lightning II Family

 

 

Hello! Today, I am introducing the series of Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. The F-35 Lightning II is another 5th generation fighter after the F-22A Raptor developed for the US Air Force, US Marines Corps, and US Navy.

 

Disclaimer: I am aware this suggestion of a 5th generation fighter may be too early; however, it does not hurt to suggest and discuss it as a potential candidate as an addition to War Thunder in the future.

Overview

Aircraft: Lockheed Martin F-35A/B/C Lightning II

 

Role: 5th Gen / Jet Fighter / Multirole / Naval Fighter (For the US Navy variant)

 

Snapshot:

From right to left: F-35A, F-35B, and F-35C

Background

Spoiler

The F-35 family is the 5th generation of a single-engine, supersonic, stealth multirole fighter. It is the second 5th generation fighter to enter the US military service and the first 5th generation fighter to enter the US Navy service. It is the result of the Joint Strike Fighter competition program.

 

In the 1980s and 1990s, the Joint Strike Fighter program kicked off to seek a replacement of a broad range of existing fighter, strike, and ground-attack aircraft for the United States and other international nations. In early 1997, Boeing and Lockheed Martin were selected to present their concept demonstrator aircraft, designated X-32 and X-35. The X-35A completed its first flight on 24 October 2000 and converted into X-35B for short take-off/vertical landing. The X-35C first flew on 16 December 2000 to demonstrate the field landing carrier practice tests. On 26 October 2001, Lockheed Martin was declared the winner and was awarded the System Development and Demonstration contract As the JSF program moved into the System Development and Demonstration phase.

 

As the JSF program moved into the System Development and Demonstration phase, the three variants were designated F-35A (Conventional Takeoff and Landing variant), F-35B (Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing variant), and F-35C (Carrier-based variant) for the US Air Force, the US Marine Corps, and the US Navy. They were designed and developed during the early 2000s. Subsequently, the first F-35A was rolled out in Fort Worth, Texas on 19 February and conducted its first flight on 15 December 2006. The F-35 received the name Lightning II after the Lockheed P-38 Lightning. The first F-35B flew on 11 June 2008, and the first F-35C flew on 6 June 2010. F-35A/B/C were in the testing stages, and they had to undergo some costly redesigns and upgrades to make them more optimized. F-35B airframes, F-35C’s arrestor hook, helmet display, sensor display, and structural integrity were met with detects and problems during that stage.

 

After the design of their F-35s was refined, the F-35s were given an upgrade configuration for the software and combat capabilities. The first two Blocks were 1A and 1B for the initial pilot training and multi-level security. Block 2A made improvements on the training capabilities. The first combat-capable upgrade was the Block 2B configuration that enabled the F-35 with starter air-to-air and strike capabilities. Block 3i kept the capabilities of 2B while having new hardware. The other upgrade was the Block 3F which provided the F-35 full flight and combat capabilities. Each block came with avionics hardware updates and structural upgrades. The F-35 is expected to be continually upgraded over its lifetime. The final known released Block 4 integrates additional weapons, refreshes the avionics, tweaks electronic warfare support measures capabilities, and equips Remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receiver support. Block 4 was distributed in 2019 and is planned to last until 2024.

 

More than 770 F-35s were produced and delivered by 2 March 2022. The F-35As were exported to Australia, Denmark, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, and South Korea, and the F-35Bs were exported to Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom. The F-35Is, an Israeli variant of the F-35, were exported to Israel. Other nations such as Belgium, Finland, and Poland placed orders of F-35As while Singapore placed an order of F-35Bs, all waiting for delivery.

Specifications

Spoiler

 

Spoiler

 

 

General Characteristics for F-35A

• Spoiler

  • Crew: 1 (Pilot)
  • Length: 51.4 feet (15.7 meters)
  • Height: 14.4 feet (4.38 meters)
  • Span: 35 feet (10.7 meters)
  • Wing Area: 460 square feet (42.7 square meters)
  • Horizontal Tail Span: 22.5 feet (6.86 meters)
  • Powerplant: 1x Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100
  • Empty Weight: 29,300 lb (13,290 kilograms)
  • Maximum Weapons Payload: 18,000 lb (8,160 kilograms)
  • Maximum Weight: 70,000 lb (31,751 kilograms)
  • Fuel Capacity: 18,250 lb (8,278 kilograms)

   

  Performance

  • Thrust: 40,000 lb each engine (18143.7 kilogram each)
  • Maximum speed: ~Mach 1.6
  • Combat Range: >590 miles (1,093 kilometers)
  • Service Ceiling: above 50,000 feet (15,240 meters)

 

General Characteristics for F-35B

• Spoiler

  • Crew: 1 (Pilot)
  • Length: 51.2 feet (15.6 meters)
  • Height: 14.3 feet (4.36 meters)
  • Span: 35 feet (10.7 meters)
  • Wing Area: 460 square feet (42.7 square meters)
  • Horizontal Tail Span: 21.8 feet (6.65 meters)
  • Powerplant: 1x Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-600
  • Empty Weight: 32,300 lb (14,651.03 kilograms)
  • Maximum Weapons Payload: 15,000 lb (6,800 kilograms)
  • Maximum Weight: 60,000 lb (27,215.54 kilograms)
  • Fuel Capacity: 13,500 lb (6,125 kilograms)

   

  Performance

  • Thrust: 40,000 lb each engine (18143.7 kilogram each)
  • Maximum speed: ~Mach 1.6
  • Combat Range: >450 miles (833 kilometers)
  • Service Ceiling: above 50,000 feet (15,240 meters)

 

General Characteristics for F-35C

• Spoiler

  • Crew: 1 (Pilot)
  • Length: 51.5 feet (15.7 meters)
  • Height: 14.7 feet (4.48 meters)
  • Span: 43 feet (13.1 meters)
  • Wing Area: 668 square feet (62.1 square meters)
  • Horizontal Tail Span: 26.3 feet (8.02 meters)
  • Powerplant: 1x Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100
  • Empty Weight: 34,800 lb (15,785.01 kilograms)
  • Maximum Weapons Payload: 18,000 lb (8,160 kilograms)
  • Maximum Weight: 70,000 lb (31,751 kilograms)
  • Fuel Capacity: 19,750 lb (8,960 kilograms)

   

  Performance

  • Thrust: 40,000 lb each engine (18143.7 kilogram each)
  • Maximum speed: ~Mach 1.6
  • Combat Range: >600 miles (1,100 kilometers)
  • Service Ceiling: above 50,000 feet (15,240 meters)

Cockpit

Spoiler

Armament

Spoiler

 

Spoiler

 

Hardpoints

• 4 x Internal Stores
• 6 x External Stores (An extra store on centerline for missionized gun pod for USMC and USN variants)

Guns

• 25mm GAU-22/A (180 Rounds) - Available Internally F-35A only
• 25mm GAU-22 Missionized Gun Pod (220 rounds) - Available Externally for F-35B and F-35C only

 

Air-to-Air Missiles

• AIM-9X Sidewinder

 

• AIM-120C AMRAAM
• AIM-120D AMRAAM

 

Air-to-Surface Bombs/Missiles

• AGM-88G HARM
• AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile
• AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile
• Naval Strike Missile
• GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition
• GBU-32 Joint Direct Attack Munition
• Pavey Laser-Guided Bombs
• AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon

 

Misc

• AN/APG-81 AESA radar
• AN/ASQ-239 Barracuda Electronic Warfare System (Provides Radar Warning Receiver)
• AN/AAQ-37 Distributed Aperture System (Provides Missile Launch Warning)
• AN/AAQ-40 Electro-Optical Targeting System
• AN/ASQ-242 Communications, Navigation, and Identification

 

Gun Pod Firing Test

Spoiler

Spoiler

Images

F-35A

Spoiler

 

F-35B

Spoiler

 

F-35C

Spoiler

Conclusion

The F-35 Family is another 5th generation fighter that serves in the US military branches and comes with extensive avionics and stealth technology. It is a great asset to expand the US aviation tech tree in the future.

Sources

There are no primary sources available at this moment. For instance, the flight and operations manuals are classified and restricted to the public.

Secondary

• https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/478441/f-35a-lightning-ii/
• https://www.f35.com/f35/about.html
• https://www.northropgrumman.com/what-we-do/air/f35-lightning/
• https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/look-f-35-lightning-history/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_F-35_Lightning_II

 

Thank you for your time reading my suggestion!

Edited April 5, 2022 by Nostalgistic

[leroyonly 4,311]

Open for discussion. 

[Draco_Argentum 1,504]

We all know 5th gen planes will come eventually so yes please.

[Fireraid233 4,274]

+1

[Milocat 4,854]

The game is going to go full modern at some point so why not?  +1.

[El Gato 75]

+1

[eleks12 1,079]

+1 When we reach BR 12.0 or higher. 

[duckmartin 1,889]

+1 I absolutely would love to see it in game but obviously with its capabilities and how advance it is I would say it would go to a br of 20.0 at least ??

[Megumin13@live 13]

+1 but we have to add it to Japan, Britain, Germany, and maybe sweden if they consider norway denmark or finland

[RagnarRedBaron 24]

52 minutes ago, Megumin13@live said:

and maybe sweden if they consider norway denmark or finland

Spoiler

gaijoob pls add finland

 

[Nostalgistic 312]

1 hour ago, Megumin13@live said:

+1 but we have to add it to Japan, Britain, Germany, and maybe sweden if they consider norway denmark or finland

Already suggested for Japan and Britain.

No public reports have confirmed for Germany that it indeed made the purchase and processed the delivery of F-35s in there yet. Finland's order of F-35s is in process and will has its first F-35 delivered by 2025-2026.

[Megumin13@live 13]

3 hours ago, Nostalgistic said:

No public reports have confirmed for Germany that it indeed made the purchase and processed the delivery of F-35s in there yet. Finland's order of F-35s is in process and will has its first F-35 delivered by 2025-2026.

Norway has had the F-35 since 2017 and have been using them since 2019, also it has a drag chute too which is interesting

[Scot1a 4]

Opposed.

 

Very likely it’ll be impossible for accurate documentation to be available due to its current usage.

[Nostalgistic 312]

8 hours ago, Scot1a said:

Opposed.

 

Very likely it’ll be impossible for accurate documentation to be available due to its current usage.

I get where you come from, but that logic also applies to modern tanks such as Challenger 2, M1A2 Abram, Leopard 2A7, and others already in the game where they do not have specification manuals available publicly because of their status as classification. It does not matter because modern vehicles will get introduced with some compromises on accurate specifications.

 

Just saying.

Edited June 29, 2022 by Nostalgistic

[SickSix 305]

Absolutely not. This game cannot handle these aircraft. The F-14A gas basically broken the current Air RB game now. The maps are entirely to small for real BVR combat and good god, how long of a grind do we want on this game? 

 

You would HAVE to allow players to skip half the tech tree if we are going to introduce modern aircraft.

[Nostalgistic 312]

1 hour ago, SickSix said:

Absolutely not. This game cannot handle these aircraft. The F-14A gas basically broken the current Air RB game now. The maps are entirely to small for real BVR combat and good god,

That's not a very good argument for this suggestion. What do F-14A and maps have to do with this suggestion? Do you realize that this game will constantly evolve with the addition of new aircraft content in the future? Maps will be naturally changed to reflect more technologically advanced aircraft.

 

1 hour ago, SickSix said:

how long of a grind do we want on this game? You would HAVE to allow players to skip half the tech tree if we are going to introduce modern aircraft.

This suggestion is not burdened for that. Do you also realize that if we introduce more new top-tier aircraft, then the required amount of RP is adjusted for every aircraft? No new aircraft added to the game will have more than 400k RP. That is always like this in-game. The grind thing is not relevant to this suggestion. If you strongly feel about that, create a separate suggestion for that.

 

Please, stay on the topic regarding the F-35 family and its weaponry, technologies, performance, counterparts, etc...

 

Thanks.

[SickSix 305]

1 hour ago, Nostalgistic said:

That's not a very good argument for this suggestion. What do F-14A and maps have to do with this suggestion? Do you realize that this game will constantly evolve with the addition of new aircraft content in the future? Maps will be naturally changed to reflect more technologically advanced aircraft.

That's hilarious. Please tell me how the gameplay has "evolved" at all over the last 5 years? Newer vehicles, yes, new game modes to suit those new vehicles? LOL players rage against bigger maps in Air and Ground battles. Gaijin has continues to cater to the to the FPS instant action crowd. That's why maps like Abandoned Factory still hold top tier tank matches. That's why F-14A's are locking and engaging targets halfway across the tiny maps that Mach 2 jets are having to play on. Game evolution is why hordes of Mig-23 MF's (including myself) are shooting down B-29s in Air Assault Arcade. 

 

 

Quote

This suggestion is not burdened for that. Do you also realize that if we introduce more new top-tier aircraft, then the required amount of RP is adjusted for every aircraft? No new aircraft added to the game will have more than 400k RP. That is always like this in-game. The grind thing is not relevant to this suggestion. If you strongly feel about that, create a separate suggestion for that.

 

You realize Gaijin just recently nuked activity point earnings across the board right? They nerfed rewards for bombers which are miserable to play to begin with. They are consistently nerfing rewards in every facet of the game. To the point that premium time has lost significant value imho. They can "cap" top tier rp costs all they want but when they consistently torpedo the games economy it makes no difference. Gaijin is literally trying to attract bees (premium buyers) with vinegar (frustration) instead of honey (FUN).

 

 

Quote

Please, stay on the topic regarding the F-35 family and its weaponry, technologies, performance, counterparts, etc...

 

Thanks.

 

Your poll literally asks if someone thinks the F35 should be added to the game. It's not my fault you can't handle dissenting feedback to your own question. My post was perfectly on topic. Maybe you should have asked "Are the merits and facts of the F35 I am presenting accurate?"

 

 

Edited June 29, 2022 by SickSix
Quote tags

[Scot1a 4]

5 hours ago, Nostalgistic said:

I get where you come from, but that logic also applies to modern tanks such as Challenger 2, M1A2 Abram, Leopard 2A7, and others already in the game where they do not have specification manuals available publicly because of their status as classification. It does not matter because modern vehicles will get introduced with some compromises on accurate specifications.

 

Just saying.

I think there is a substantial difference in complexity between a 3rd generation tank and a fifth generation fighter.   I feel like the amount of guessing they would do would make the plane an almost complete fabrication, vs a tank that is missing some classified benefits/deficiencies.

Edited June 29, 2022 by Scot1a

[Nostalgistic 312]

1 hour ago, SickSix said:

That's hilarious. Please tell me how the gameplay has "evolved" at all over the last 5 years? Newer vehicles, yes, new game modes to suit those new vehicles? LOL players rage against bigger maps in Air and Ground battles. Gaijin has continues to cater to the to the FPS instant action crowd. That's why maps like Abandoned Factory still hold top tier tank matches. That's why F-14A's are locking and engaging targets halfway across the tiny maps that Mach 2 jets are having to play on. Game evolution is why hordes of Mig-23 MF's (including myself) are shooting down B-29s in Air Assault Arcade.

I understand the current game mode of small maps is very stagnant to new jet fighters, and I 100% agree with that. I am not going to debate the game modes alone in this suggestion.

 

1 hour ago, SickSix said:

You realize Gaijin just recently nuked activity point earnings across the board right? They nerfed rewards for bombers which are miserable to play to begin with. They are consistently nerfing rewards in every facet of the game. To the point that premium time has lost significant value imho. They can "cap" top tier rp costs all they want but when they consistently torpedo the games economy it makes no difference. Gaijin is literally trying to attract bees (premium buyers) with vinegar (frustration) instead of honey (FUN).

I'm aware we have the nerfed rewards, but it does not relate to this suggestion. There is another forum for that to discuss the rewards.

 

1 hour ago, SickSix said:

Your poll literally asks if someone thinks the F35 should be added to the game. It's not my fault you can't handle dissenting feedback to your own question. My post was perfectly on topic. Maybe you should have asked "Are the merits and facts of the F35 I am presenting accurate?"

The poll I created does not mention anything other than F-35, and I failed to see the relevancy of your previous arguments such as F-14A, game mode of Air RB, skipping half the tree tech to get instant modern aircraft, grind, and nerfed rewards. Maybe you should not say about the game's circumstances in this suggestion.

 

45 minutes ago, Scot1a said:

I think there is a substantial difference in complexity between a 3rd generation tank and a fifth generation fighter.   I feel like the amount of guessing they would do would make the plane a almost complete fabrication, vs a tank that is missing some classified benefits/deficiencies.

Good point, that is valid. I am confident that they will not make its performance completely bogus. Only radar and stealth technologies are strictly and heavily classified. I do not mind if those need some serious compromises and guesswork along with other 4.5th gen jet fighters; however, performance and weaponry should not require wild guesswork as there is evidence from photographs, videos, and public documents.

Edited June 29, 2022 by Nostalgistic

[SickSix 305]

@NostalgisticYour logic is so flawed. You cannot ask if we feel that the F-35 should be added to war thunder in a vacuum. You want to ignore all context to adding the plane to game. I have seen soo many suggestions/ideas shot down for "that doesn't fit within war thunder" and you are actively ignoring that argument. 

 

Brining up the F-14A, game modes, and grind are contextual reasons why I don't feel this plane belongs in WT. There is no system to support it. And @Scot1a provides the biggest objective reason not to add it; Gaijin would have to just make up almost the entire performance/capabilities out of thin air. Radar is pretty wonky as is now, and we want to add stealth/semi-stealth airframes? How would they even approach coding that and balancing that? 

[Nostalgistic 312]

1 hour ago, SickSix said:

@NostalgisticYour logic is so flawed. You cannot ask if we feel that the F-35 should be added to war thunder in a vacuum. You want to ignore all context to adding the plane to game. I have seen soo many suggestions/ideas shot down for "that doesn't fit within war thunder" and you are actively ignoring that argument.

 

Let's repeat what you said before with your contextual reasoning.

 

First, you said "absolutely not" to this F-35 suggestion because of out of your fear due to the lengthy grind, and you proposed the players should skip half the tech tree to access the modern aircraft. I feel that's not valid because you made it sound like you don't want more modern aircraft such as F-16, F-18, F-22, Mig-29, Su-27, and Su-57 with given context to get added to the game or suffer the lengthy grind. And, I doubt we will be able to skip the WW2 content in the tech tree and instant access to the modern aircraft. That's not a very good business model from Gaijin's viewpoint. That's why I said that argument has no place in this suggestion. War Thunder is a free game with many, many vehicles where we have grind and unlock and is constantly being added with expected newer content in the future.

 

1 hour ago, SickSix said:

Brining up the F-14A, game modes, and grind are contextual reasons why I don't feel this plane belongs in WT. There is no system to support it.

Are you saying we should leave F-14A as the last top-tier aircraft for the USA and stop adding more modern aircraft because it is too much until the issues have gotten fixed? Bruh, the maps and runways were increased and lengthened back then to support early generation jet fighters. It is possible for the system to be reformed to support newer 4th and 5th gen jet fighters.

 

I strongly feel this F-35 suggestion is valid and fitting in War Thunder because:

 

A.) It is a jet fighter with dog fighting capabilities that has a place in top-tier team deathmatch Air RB, unlike bombers.

 

B.) It is an aircraft with STOL/VTOL technology (we have Yak-38s and Harriers in-game).

 

C.) It is a unique aircraft that combines STOL/VTOL technology and stealth technology. Of course, we CAN add stealth/semi-stealth mechanisms, and that's Gaijin's job to code and balance. Our job is to provide feedback like Gaijin has been adding new things. I do not think it goes to be broken OP as F-14A because F-35 is slower and less maneuverable than F-22, so its advanced stealth technology will compensate for that disadvantage.

 

D.) It is a new 5th gen jet fighter that can wait in the future when the time is right after the proper 4th-generation aircraft got introduced.

 

1 hour ago, SickSix said:

And @Scot1a provides the biggest objective reason not to add it; Gaijin would have to just make up almost the entire performance/capabilities out of thin air. Radar is pretty wonky as is now, and we want to add stealth/semi-stealth airframes? How would they even approach coding that and balancing that? 

See, it does stick to the topic. Scot1a's opposition is justified and has a place in this suggestion.

 

I am curious too about how they approach coding and balancing stealth and radar. And, that does not mean we should be afraid of adding new things and experimenting with them. I would understand if you oppose that; however, I disagreed with your opposition based on F-14A, game modes, and grind.

Edited June 29, 2022 by Nostalgistic

[warthogboy09 196]

16 hours ago, SickSix said:

how long of a grind do we want on this game? 

You do realize the Sabres and MiGs used to have 390K RP cost? This is not a valid argument against ANY addition. 

 

Furthermore, you're complaining about an addition that will not be seen in game for at least 4-5 years. We have yet to even see a truly modern analog radar implemented, let alone AESA, stealth and other advanced features modeled. They already make changes/ improvements to radar with every major patch. Pretty impressive when it's worked on by one person. I wish I had your magic ball that I could look 5 years into the future and see the game wont have a place for these aircraft then.

[DesertShadowX 13]

I totally voted, "Yes," because the F-35B would be another shiny VTOL to add to my collection. Those things are so much fun!
Nonetheless I agree that the people worried about balance can breathe easy. Even if it gets passed for consideration it will STILL take a long time to be added. Just look at the MiG-25/31 and many other fourth gens that have yet to be added.

Edited July 1, 2022 by DesertShadowX
forgot something.

[SickSix 305]

On 30/06/2022 at 02:13, warthogboy09 said:

You do realize the Sabres and MiGs used to have 390K RP cost? This is not a valid argument against ANY addition. 

 

Furthermore, you're complaining about an addition that will not be seen in game for at least 4-5 years. We have yet to even see a truly modern analog radar implemented, let alone AESA, stealth and other advanced features modeled. They already make changes/ improvements to radar with every major patch. Pretty impressive when it's worked on by one person. I wish I had your magic ball that I could look 5 years into the future and see the game wont have a place for these aircraft then.

You're right. I acknowledge my arguments are invalid because it will be another 2-3 years before we see airframe like this. People that joined when the Me-262 and Saber were top tier probably never dreamed of Mig-21s fighting F-4s with Radar guided missiles. 

 

I still feel like a LOT of the 5th gen performance and stats is just going to be made up due to these vehicles being active and secret, but Gaijin already put active tanks in the game with guesses at armor protection. Flight performance is a little more complicated but I'm sure they will figure it out.

[DarkLordMagus 44]

On 07/06/2022 at 10:54, eleks12 said:

+1 When we reach BR 12.0 or higher. 

Jets this modern should be more like 13.0 minimum, and probably higher than that.