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The ABCs of F-35

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The ABCs of F-35
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The ABCs of F-35

F-35s are providing advanced, connected capabilities to the U.S. and allies around the world – from the air, land, and sea.

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The F-35 family includes three variants with similar performance characteristics and identical avionics:

  • F-35A – conventional takeoff and landing
  • F-35B – short takeoff/vertical landing
  • F-35C – carrier variant

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F-35A

Designed to operate from conventional runways, the F-35A is the most common variant. The U.S. Air Force and most F-35 international customers operate the F-35A.

U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jose Miguel T. Tamondong

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In Europe, F-35 operators have been touting how the aircraft is strengthening allied deterrence and interoperability.

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“The F-35 has been one of the most effective integration tools for NATO since the end of the Cold War,” Gen. James Hecker, Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa.
Photograph by Ole Andreas Vekve, Finnish Armed Forces

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F-35B

The F-35B is the first-ever supersonic stealth aircraft with short takeoff/vertical landing capability.

The F-35B’s unique ability to land vertically and take off in very short distances allows it to operate from a variety of ships and .

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Amelia Kang

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Today, the F-35B is operated by the United States, United Kingdom, and Italy. Japan is also some of its ships to operate with the stealth jump jet.
Photo by the Royal Navy

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F-35C

The F-35C is the U.S. Navy’s first stealth fighter and the world’s only 5th Generation, long-range stealth strike fighter.

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With more robust landing gear, larger wings and larger internal fuel capacity, the F-35C was designed explicitly for aircraft carrier operations.

Operated by America’s Navy and Marine Corps, F-35Cs have recently been operating on three American carriers – bringing new capabilities and flexibility to carrier decks.

“F-35Cs are extremely versatile, able to complete a wide variety of missions that would’ve required multiple aircraft before,” U.S. Navy Capt. Alex Hampton, commander of Carrier Air Wing 7.

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class August Clawson