F-35 JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER

THE LOCKHEED MARTIN F-35 JSF (JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER) ALSO KNOWN AS F-35 LIGHTNING 2 IS A FIFTH GENERATION, SINGLE SEAT, SINGLE-ENGINE, STEALTH-CAPABLE MILITARY STRIKE FIGHTER , A MULTI ROLE AIRCRAFT THAT CAN PERFORM CLOSE AIR SUPPORT, TACTICAL BOMBING AND AIR DEFENCE MISSIONS. THE F-35 HAS THREE DIFFERENT MODELS; ONE IS THE CONVENTIONAL TAKEOFF AND LANDING VARIANT, THE SECOND IS SHORT TAKEOFF AND VERTICAL LANDING VARIANT AND THE LAST ONE IS CARRIER-BASED VARIANT. THE F35 DESCENDED FROM THE X-35, THE PRODUCT OF THE JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER (JSF) PROGRAM. ITS DEVELOPMENT IS BEING WELL FUNDED BY THE UNITED STATES AND UNITED KINGDOM AND OTHER PARTNER GOVERNMENT PROVIDING ADDITIONAL FUNDING. IT IS BEING DESIGNED AND BUILT BY AN AEROSPACE INDUSTRY TEAM LED BY LOCKHEED MARTIN, NORTHROP GRUMMAN AND BAE SYSTEMS AS MAJOR PARTNERS. IN THE YEAR 2000 IT IS FLOWN AS A DEMONSTRATOR AIRCRAFT AND WITH THE FIRST FLIGHT ON 15 DECEMBER 2006. WITH 1x PRATT & WHITNEY F135 AFTERBURNER TURBOFAN AS IT POWER PLANT BRING THIS STEALTH MULTI ROLE AIRCRAFT TO A SPEED MACH 1.6+ (1200 mph, 1931 km/h). IT IS ALSO ARM WITH 1x GAU 22/A 25mm (0.984 in) CANNON, 6 EXTERNAL PYLONS ON WINGS WITH A CAPACITY OF 15000 lb (6800 kg) AND 2 INTERNAL BAYS WITH 2 PYLONS EACH. THE F-35 ALSO CAN EQUIP WITH BOTH AIR TO GROUND AND AIR TO AIR MISSILES FOR EXAMPLE AIR TO AIR MISSILES IS AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-132 ASRAAM AND AIM-9X SIDEWINDER AND AIR TO GROUND AGM-154 JSOW AND AGM-158 JASSM. THIS AIRCRAFT ALSO CAN CARRY VARIOUS KIND OF BOMB FOR EXAMPLE MARK 84 GENERAL PURPOSE BOMBS, MARK 82 AND 83 GP BOMBS, Mk.20 ROCKEYE 2 CLUSTER BOMBS, WIND CORRECTED MUNITIONS DISPENSER, PAVEWAY-SERIES LASER-GUIDED BOMBS AND LASTLY JDAM-SERIES (JOINT DIRECT ATTACK MUNITION. THE F-35 LIGHTNING 2 IS THE MOST ADVANCE 5th GENERATION STEALTH MULTI ROLE AIRCRAFT EVER BUILT.