F-35 debut at Farnborough airshow

The world’s most advanced fighter jet, the F-35 Lightning II, is making its first appearance at the Farnborough airshow in the UK this summer

F-35B jump jet variant

F135 turbofan engine

Main lift fan door

Auxiliary lift fan door

Payload bay door

Pilot: Headset gives 360° view of battlefield

Optical targeting system

AESA* radar

Thrust vectoring nozzle Directs full thrust of engine down for vertical takeoff and landing

Roll post ducts: Underwing nozzles use engine bleed air to provide lateral stability during low speed and hover

Stealth Angular structure and “fibre mat” coating help to disperse hostile radar waves

Length 15.6m

Wingspan 10.7m

Speed Mach 1.6

Range 1,667km

Lift fan: Powered by driveshaft from jet engine – balances lift generated at tail

Weapons payload 6,800kg

Max. thrust 178kN

F-35 orders

U.S. 2,443

Britain  138

Australia 100

Turkey 100
 
Italy 90

Canada 65
 
Norway 52

Japan 42

South Korea 40

Netherlands 37

Israel 33

Denmark 27

Sources: Lockheed Martin, wire agencies 

*Active electronically scanned array