Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II

Last revised May 22, 2020

The Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II was the carrier-based version of the Joint Srike Fighter (JSF) program. It is intended to replace the F/A-18C/D Hornet with the US Navy. The F-35C was the first stealth-capable aircraftto be able to operate from a carrier deck.

Compared to the F-35A, the F-35C features larger wings with foldable wingtip sections, larger wing and tail control surfaces for improved low-speed control, stronger landing gear for the stresses of carrier arrested landings, a twin-wheel nose gear, and a stronger tailhook for use with carrier arrestor cables. The larger wing area allows for decreased landing speed while increasing both range and payload.

The wingspan of the F-35C is 43 feet, as compared with 35 feet for the F-35A and B. The wing area of the F-35C is 668 square feet, as compared with 460 square feet for the F-35A and B. The F-35C has additional ailerons at the folding sections of the wings.

The F-35C has the greatest internal fuel capacity of the three F-35 variants and can carry nearly 20,000 punds of internal fuel It can use probe and drogue aerial refuelling.

Unlike the F-35A, the F-35C has no internal gun and instead can use a Terma A/S multi-mission pod (MMP) carrying a GAU-22/A cannon with 220 rounds; the pod is mounted on the centerline of the aircraft and shaped to reduce its radar cross-section. The offensive weapons are carried in two internal weapons bays.

The United States Navy plans to acquire 273 F-35Cs, and the United States Marine Corps plans to acquire 67 F-35Cs. Strike Fighter Squadron VFA-147 achieved the safe for flight milestone in December 2018 The F-35C achieved Initial Operating Cabability in February of 2019, the first deployable F-35C squadron was VFA-25, which traded in its F/A-18Es. It was planned to deploy the F-35C aboard the carrier Carl Vinson in 2021.

The first Marine F-35C squadron was VMFA-314 “Black Knights”, based at NAS Lemoore, achieved a safe for flight operations certification on March 20, 2020. The squadron previously flew the F/A-18 Hornet.

Specifications of the F-35C

Length: 51.5 feet Height: 14.7 feet Wingspan: 43 feet Wing Area: 668 square feet Empty Weight: 34,581 pounds Maximum Takeoff Weight: 70,000 pounds Weight of Fuel: 19,750 pounds Weapons Payload: 18,000 pounds Range: 1400 miles. Combat radius on internal fuel: 700 miles Maximum speed at altitutdeL Mach 1.6

Sources:


  1. Boeing X-32, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_X-32

  2. Lockheed Martin X-35, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_X-35

  3. Ultimate Fighter–Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, Bill Sweetman, Zenith Press, 2004 Orion, 1987.

  4. Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_F-35_Lightning_II