The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
By Rebecca Grant
A publication from IRIS
press,
this 30-page booklet sheds light on the United States'
newest fighter project: the F-35. The booklet illuminates how the F-35 will transform
the way the United States and its aerospace allies employ airpower - strategically,
tactically, and operationally. Building on technological advances pioneered by the
F/A-22, the F-35 combines stealth, maneuverability, internal and external weapons
carriage and advanced on-board avionics and sensors. The F-35 adds to that mix
with extended range. And it will be procured throughout the services ensuring
increased interoperability. Advances in manufacturing make for faster assembly
times, and maintenance, including that for its low-observability features, has
been vastly improved.
Also detailed in this booklet are the unique collaborations that will guide
the F-35's development. Numerous international agreements between the United
States and its allies allow countries to share costs and technology.
In addition, partnerships between the primary contractor, Lockheed Martin,
and numerous contractors at home and abroad to design and manufacture the
aircraft foster even more cooperation.
With the F-35 slated to reach initial operational capability by the end of the decade,
it has the potential to revolutionize warfighting in the 21st Century.