Joint Strike Fighter F-35 Lightning II
Australia joined the international Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program in 2002 and is expected to acquire around 100 aircraft to replace its Hornets and F-111s from 2012. The JSF, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, is being developed as a fifth-generation, stealthy, multi-role fighter for the US and UK armed forces and allies.
Joining the international JSF program enables Australia to access capability and technology a generation ahead of other contemporary aircraft. Involvement allows Australian industry to compete for JSF work, and provides opportunities to participate in the development, production and through-life support phases of the program.
The JSF is being designed to:
- be a long-range stealth fighter
- have advanced electro-optical and infrared sensors
- use a wide range of air-to-surface and air-to-air weapons
- have radically reduced support requirements.
Three variants are planned:
- conventional take-off and landing variant (F-35A CTOL)
- short take-off and vertical landing variant (F-35B STOVL)
- carrier variant (F-35C CV).
Australia is expected to acquire the F-35A CTOL variant and achieve Initial Operating Capability in 2014.
Other international JSF program participants include:
- United States of America (US Navy, US Air Force, US Marine Corps)
- United Kingdom (Royal Navy and Royal Air Force)
- Canada
- Denmark
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Turkey.
Ill-suited F-22 Raptor too expensive
It is very unlikely that Australia will purchase the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, as proposed by some commentators. The F-22 Raptor cannot perform the strike or close air support roles planned for the JSF. The JSF is also designed to be substantially cheaper to purchase and operate. Read the Air Force News JSF articles (below) to learn more.
Related links
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II technical specifications (subject to change)
| Manufacturer |
Lockheed Martin |
| Role |
Multi-role fighter |
| Crew |
One |
| Engine |
Pratt and Whitney F-135 planned. General Electric-Rolls Royce F-136 also under consideration. |
| Airframe |
Length 15.6m |
| Wingspan |
10.7m |
| Weight |
Maximum take-off weight in excess of 22,700kg |
| Range |
1100km combat radius |
| Weapons |
A wide selection of US and UK air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons including AMRAAM, ASRAAM, JDAM, laser-guided bombs and an internally-mounted 25mm gun |
