Aircraft & UAVs

F-35 Lightning II

Also known as
  • Joint Strike Fighter
  • JSF
  • F-35A
  • F-35B
  • F-35C
  • F-35I
  • Adir

The F-35 Lightning II is a single-seat, single-engine stealth fighter family built around sensor fusion, networked targeting, and multirole strike missions. U.S. and Israeli variants have documented post-2015 combat use in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Red Sea crisis, and Iran-related operations, including F-35B and F-35C first combat strikes and Israeli F-35I air-defense and strike missions.

F-35 Lightning II, Fifth-generation stealth multirole fighter, Aircraft & UAVs
Image source: F-35A flight (cropped).jpg

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United States
Type
Fifth-generation stealth multirole fighter
Service note
2010s-present
Designer
Lockheed Martin, with Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems as major program partners
Designed
Joint Strike Fighter selection in 2001; first F-35 flight in 2006
Produced
2000s-present

Specifications

Crew
1
Powerplant
One Pratt & Whitney F135 turbofan
Thrust
43,000 lb class
Maximum speed
Mach 1.6
Range
More than 1,350 miles with internal fuel for F-35A
Ceiling
Above 50,000 ft
Payload
18,000 lb class internal and external weapons load
Sensors
Integrated radar, electro-optical targeting, distributed aperture sensors, helmet-mounted display, and tactical data links
Variants

The F-35 family is organized around three main airframe variants, with Israel's F-35I Adir treated as a national F-35A-derived configuration.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
F-35A Lightning II, Conventional takeoff and landing stealth multirole fighter, Aircraft & UAVsF-35A Lightning IIConventional takeoff and landing variant

Lockheed Martin describes the F-35A as the conventional-runway variant and the most common F-35 model.

Sources: The ABCs of F-35

F-35B Lightning II, STOVL stealth multirole fighter, Aircraft & UAVsF-35B Lightning IIShort takeoff/vertical landing variant

The F-35B is the family member built for short takeoffs, vertical landings, ships, and austere locations.

Sources: The ABCs of F-35

F-35C Lightning II, Carrier-based stealth multirole fighter, Aircraft & UAVsF-35C Lightning IICarrier variant

The F-35C is the carrier branch, with larger wings, more internal fuel, and robust landing gear for carrier operations.

Sources: The ABCs of F-35

F-35I Adir, Israeli F-35A-derived stealth multirole fighter, Aircraft & UAVsF-35I AdirIsraeli F-35A-derived configuration

The Adir is Israel's locally designated F-35 variant; its catalog record covers the Israeli configuration and combat-use evidence.

Sources: Three New Adir Fighter Jets Have Landed at Nevatim Air Base

Carried Munitions

The F-35's published loadout data includes AMRAAM compatibility and flight-test carriage of AIM-120 missiles.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
AIM-120 AMRAAM, Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, MunitionsAIM-120 AMRAAMBeyond-visual-range air-to-air missile

The Air Force fact sheet says AMRAAM is compatible with the developmental F-35, and Lockheed Martin reported F-35 AIM-120 separation flights, documenting the aircraft as a carrier for the AMRAAM family.

Sources: USAF AIM-120 AMRAAM fact sheet, F-35 Flight Test Program Milestones Maturing Combat Capabilities

AIM-9X Sidewinder missile, Short-range air-to-air missile, MunitionsAIM-9X Sidewinder missileShort-range infrared air-to-air missile

U.S. Air Force reporting says an F-35 fighter jet launched an AIM-9X missile for the first time, and Navy reporting shows F-35B test flights with inert AIM-9X Sidewinders.

Sources: F-35 fires first AIM-9X missile, Photo Release: F-35B aircraft test flight with AIM-9X Sidewinder

GBU-31(V)1 Joint Direct Attack Munition, 2,000-pound JDAM bomb, MunitionsGBU-31(V)1 Joint Direct Attack Munition2,000-pound guided bomb

Lockheed Martin's F-35 about page lists two GBU-31 JDAM guided bombs in the standard internal weapons load.

Sources: About the F-35

GBU-32 1,000-pound Joint Direct Attack Munition, 1,000-pound GPS/INS-guided bomb kit, MunitionsGBU-32 1,000-pound Joint Direct Attack Munition1,000-pound guided bomb

Lockheed Martin's F-35 about page lists two GBU-32 JDAM guided bombs in the standard internal weapons load.

Sources: About the F-35

Integrated Sensors
Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
F-35 Electro Optical Targeting System (EOTS), Internally mounted electro-optical targeting sensor subsystem, Support EquipmentF-35 Electro Optical Targeting System (EOTS)Internally mounted electro-optical targeting sensor

The F-35A fact sheet says the aircraft is equipped with the internally mounted EOTS.

Sources: F-35A Lightning II Fact Sheet

Air and Missile Defence Integration
Compatible itemItem typeCompatibility evidence
AIR6500 Joint Air Battle Management System, Integrated air and missile defence command-and-control system, Support EquipmentAIR6500 Joint Air Battle Management SystemAir and missile defence command-and-control system

The F-35A Lightning II is one of the priority platforms named for initial integration with Project AIR6500.

Sources: Government invests $500 million in defence capability and delivers job boost, Latest contract a big deal for air defence

Timeline

F-35 Lightning II Key Events

  1. First U.S. combat strike

    U.S. Marine Corps F-35Bs from VMFA-211 conducted the type's first U.S. combat strike in Afghanistan during Operation Freedom's Sentinel.

    Sources: USMC F-35B Conducts First Combat Strike in CENTCOM AOR

  2. First Air Force combat mission in Iraq

    U.S. Air Force F-35As flew their first combat mission in Iraq in support of Combined Joint Task Force - 2014 Operation Inherent Resolve.

    Sources: U.S. Air Force F-35As conduct first combat mission

  3. Israeli Adir intercepts cruise missile

    The IDF said Israeli F-35I Adir jets intercepted a cruise missile launched toward Israeli airspace during the 2023 Israel-Hamas War.

    Sources: Cruise Missile Intercepted by Adir Jet and Surface-To-Surface Missile Intercepted by Arrow

Media

F-35 Lightning II Videos

F-35 Lightning II Images

F-35 Lightning II, Fifth-generation stealth multirole fighter, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1
Source: F-35A Lightning II at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.jpg
F-35 Lightning II, Fifth-generation stealth multirole fighter, Aircraft & UAVs - view 2
Source: F-35A Lightning II flies above the Mojave Desert.jpg
Related Weapon Systems
F-35A Lightning II, Conventional takeoff and landing stealth multirole fighter, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsF-35A Lightning IIConventional takeoff and landing stealth multirole fighterThe F-35A Lightning II is the conventional takeoff and landing branch of the Joint Strike Fighter family, built for land-based air forces that need stealth strike, air-to-air, sensor-fusion, and suppression-of-enemy-air-defense missions. U.S. Air Force F-35As have directly documented combat use in Iraq against ISIS, in U.S. strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, and in the June 2025 Operation Midnight Hammer strike package against Iranian nuclear sites.
F-35I Adir, Israeli F-35A-derived stealth multirole fighter, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsF-35I AdirIsraeli F-35A-derived stealth multirole fighterThe F-35I Adir is Israel's locally designated F-35 Lightning II variant, a single-seat stealth multirole fighter operated from Nevatim Air Base and adapted for Israeli Air Force command, sustainment, and weapons-integration needs. Israeli F-35I aircraft have directly documented combat use in Syria, Gaza-war air defense, Lebanon-related Hezbollah operations, and the Israel-Iran conflict, including an official 2026 IDF account of an Adir shooting down an Iranian Yak-130 over Tehran.
F-35B Lightning II, STOVL stealth multirole fighter, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsF-35B Lightning IISTOVL stealth multirole fighterThe F-35B Lightning II is the short takeoff and vertical landing variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, pairing stealth sensors and internal weapons carriage with a lift-fan propulsion system for amphibious ships and austere sites. Marine and allied F-35Bs have been documented in Afghanistan combat strikes, anti-Daesh missions from HMS Queen Elizabeth, and U.S. 5th Fleet flight operations during the 2026 phase of the 2020 United States-Iran Conflict.
F-35C Lightning II, Carrier-based stealth multirole fighter, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsF-35C Lightning IICarrier-based stealth multirole fighterThe F-35C Lightning II is the carrier variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, built for catapult launches and arrested landings with larger wings, folding wingtips, strengthened landing gear, internal fuel for long-range carrier operations, and a sensor suite intended for strike, air-to-air, reconnaissance, and electronic-warfare missions. U.S. Marine Corps F-35Cs made the variant's first documented combat strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen in 2024, and an F-35C was later reported shooting down an Iranian Shahed-139 drone near USS Abraham Lincoln in 2026.
F-15I Ra'am, Two-seat long-range strike fighter, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsF-15I Ra'amTwo-seat long-range strike fighterThe F-15I Ra'am is Israel's F-15E-derived two-seat strike fighter, built in the United States with Israeli-specific avionics, communications, electronic-warfare, and helmet-sight equipment. Open-source records tie the 69th Squadron aircraft to long-range strike and interdiction roles from the 2006 Lebanon War through Gaza, Hezbollah, Red Sea/Yemen, and Iran operations, while Boeing and Israeli-reference sources describe the original 25-aircraft fleet, F100-PW-229 engines, APG-70 radar, and precision-weapon compatibility.
F-4 Phantom II, Twin-engine, two-seat supersonic fighter-bomber, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsF-4 Phantom IITwin-engine, two-seat supersonic fighter-bomberThe F-4 Phantom II is an American twin-engine, two-seat supersonic fighter-bomber developed by McDonnell for U.S. Navy fleet defense and later adopted by U.S. and allied air arms for interception, strike, reconnaissance, and electronic-warfare roles. More than 5,000 were built, with source-backed catalog use spanning Israeli War of Attrition strikes, U.S. F-4G Wild Weasel missions in the Gulf War, Turkish F-4E 2020 strikes against PKK targets, Turkey's RF-4E loss over the Syria crisis, and attributed Iranian anti-ISIS strikes in Iraq.
F-22 Raptor, Fifth-generation stealth air-superiority fighter, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsF-22 RaptorFifth-generation stealth air-superiority fighterThe F-22 Raptor is a U.S. fifth-generation stealth air-dominance fighter built around low-observable shaping, supercruise, thrust-vectoring F119 engines, integrated avionics, and internal weapons carriage. Designed first for air-to-air control, it also carries JDAM and small-diameter bomb loads for precision strike, with U.S. Air Force sources documenting combat use over Syria and Iraq during 2014 Operation Inherent Resolve and CENTCOM material identifying F-22s in the 2025 Operation Midnight Hammer strike package against Iran.

Related News

Sources

About the F-35Publisher: Lockheed Martin | Note: Supports the F-35 standard internal weapons load, including GBU-31 and GBU-32 JDAM guided bombs. | Accessed: 2026-06-28The ABCs of F-35Publisher: Lockheed Martin | Note: Supports the F-35A, F-35B, and F-35C variant distinctions used in the family table. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Government invests $500 million in defence capability and delivers job boostPublisher: Australian Government | Note: Supports F-35A Lightning II initial integration with AIR6500 priority platforms. | Accessed: 2026-06-28Latest contract a big deal for air defencePublisher: Australian Department of Defence | Note: Supports the AIR6500 priority-platform integration context for F-35A Lightning II aircraft. | Accessed: 2026-06-28F-35A Lightning II Fact SheetPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports F-35A role, specifications, sensor suite, and background. | Accessed: 2026-06-20USAF AIM-120 AMRAAM fact sheetPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports F-35 AMRAAM compatibility and general AMRAAM background. | Accessed: 2026-06-28F-35 Flight Test Program Milestones Maturing Combat CapabilitiesPublisher: Lockheed Martin | Note: Supports F-35 AIM-120 separation-flight background. | Accessed: 2026-06-28F-35 Lightning IIPublisher: Lockheed Martin | Note: Supports manufacturer and program background. | Accessed: 2026-06-20F-35A flight (cropped).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Public-domain U.S. Air Force image used as the primary image. | Accessed: 2026-06-20F-35A Lightning II at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Public-domain U.S. Air Force image used in the gallery. | Accessed: 2026-06-20F-35A Lightning II flies above the Mojave Desert.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Public-domain U.S. Air Force image used in the gallery. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Hill Airmen carry out historic F-35 deployment to CENTCOMPublisher: 388th Fighter Wing | Note: Supports 2020 United States-Iran Conflict: F-35A aircraft used by the 388th Fighter Wing to penetrate Iranian airspace, suppress enemy air defenses, and escort the B-2 strike package during Operation Midnight Hammer. | Accessed: 2026-06-20USMC F-35B Conducts First Combat Strike in CENTCOM AORPublisher: U.S. Navy | Note: Direct conflict use for 2001 War in Afghanistan: U.S. Marine Corps F-35B combat strike use under Operation Freedom's Sentinel. | Accessed: 2026-06-20U.S. Air Force F-35As conduct first combat missionPublisher: U.S. Central Command | Note: Supports 2014 War Against the Islamic State direct conflict-use context: U.S. Air Force F-35As conducted an air strike at Wadi Ashai, Iraq, in support of Combined Joint Task Force - 2014 Operation Inherent Resolve on April 30, 2019, striking Daesh tunnel and weapons-cache targets. | Accessed: 2026-06-23F-35I Strikes Down Iranian Fighter Jet in FlightPublisher: Israel Defense Forces | Note: Supports 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict direct use: the IDF reported an Israeli F-35I shot down an Iranian Yak-130 during the 2026 Iran-Israel war. | Accessed: 2026-06-20IDF Aircraft Ranking in IranPublisher: Israel Defense Forces | Note: Supports 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict direct use: the IDF ranked the F-35I Adir second among aircraft types that attacked in Iran during Operation Rising Lion and described it as central to the opening stages. | Accessed: 2026-07-03FPRI Rising Lion Air Offensive Part IPublisher: Foreign Policy Research Institute | Note: Supports 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict direct use: FPRI described the F-35I Adir's extensive role in Operation Rising Lion, including penetrating ISTAR, precision strike, tactical-information sharing, and support to air superiority. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Israel showed the 'power' of F-35s in Iran Strikes: UK AdmiralPublisher: Business Insider | Note: Supports background on Israeli F-35 use in strikes against Iran before the June 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict. | Accessed: 2026-06-26March 4, 2026 Iran-Israel War Live UpdatesPublisher: Israel Defense Forces | Note: Supports 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict direct use: the IDF reported an F-35I shot down an Iranian YAK-130 and struck Iranian targets during the same operation period. | Accessed: 2026-06-26U.S. Marine Squadron Conduct First Combat Strikes Using F-35C Platform Against Houthi Targets in YemenPublisher: U.S. Naval Forces Central Command | Note: Directly supports 2023 Red Sea Crisis F-35C strike use by VMFA-314 aboard USS Abraham Lincoln against Houthi weapons-storage facilities in Yemen on November 9-10, 2024. | Accessed: 2026-06-20F-35 fires first AIM-9X missilePublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports F-35 launch of AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles. | Accessed: 2026-06-28Photo Release: F-35B aircraft test flight with AIM-9X SidewinderPublisher: NAVAIR | Note: Supports F-35B test flights with AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles. | Accessed: 2026-06-28Cruise Missile Intercepted by Adir Jet and Surface-To-Surface Missile Intercepted by ArrowPublisher: Israel Defense Forces | Note: Directly supports 2023 Israel-Hamas War use: the IDF said Israeli F-35I Adir jets were used to intercept a cruise missile launched toward Israeli airspace. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Three New Adir Fighter Jets Have Landed at Nevatim Air BasePublisher: Israel Defense Forces | Note: Supports F-35I Adir identity, Lockheed Martin manufacture, and Israeli Air Force operation from Nevatim Air Base. | Accessed: 2026-07-04The IAF Acts to Protect Israeli CiviliansPublisher: Israel Defense Forces | Note: Directly supports 2023 Israel-Hezbollah Conflict: the IDF published F-35I Adir refueling footage in Lebanese skies with materials from Israeli Air Force strikes in Lebanon. | Accessed: 2026-06-22Israel Says F-35s See First-Ever Combat With IDF Over SyriaPublisher: CapRadio / NPR | Note: Supports 2011 Syrian Civil War direct conflict use by reporting Israeli F-35 strikes against Iranian targets in Syria on May 22, 2018. | Accessed: 2026-06-26