{
  "id": "f-35a",
  "name": "F-35A Lightning II",
  "aliases": [
    "F-35",
    "JSF"
  ],
  "domain": "air",
  "country": "USA",
  "category": "Multirole fighter (CTOL)",
  "status": "in-service",
  "fielded": 2016,
  "operators": [
    "USA"
  ],
  "summary": "Conventional takeoff and landing variant of the F-35, the U.S. Air Force's fifth-generation multirole fighter.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "speed_mach",
      "v": 1.6,
      "src": [
        "lm-f35-fastfacts"
      ],
      "conf": "high",
      "note": "About 1,200 mph"
    },
    {
      "k": "combat_radius_km",
      "v": 1093,
      "src": [
        "lm-f35-fastfacts"
      ],
      "conf": "high",
      "note": "More than 590 nmi, USAF profile, internal fuel"
    },
    {
      "k": "range_km",
      "v": 2200,
      "src": [
        "lm-f35-fastfacts"
      ],
      "conf": "high",
      "note": "More than 1,200 nmi, USAF profile"
    },
    {
      "k": "ceiling_m",
      "v": 15240,
      "src": [
        "af-f35a"
      ],
      "conf": "high",
      "note": "Above 50,000 ft. af.mil blocked the automated check on 3 Oct 2026; confirm against the fact sheet."
    },
    {
      "k": "payload_kg",
      "v": 8160,
      "src": [
        "lm-f35-fastfacts"
      ],
      "conf": "high",
      "note": "Internal weapons payload, 18,000 lb"
    },
    {
      "k": "crew",
      "v": 1,
      "src": [
        "af-f35a"
      ],
      "conf": "high"
    },
    {
      "k": "g_limit",
      "v": 9,
      "src": [
        "lm-f35-fastfacts"
      ],
      "conf": "high"
    }
  ],
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-03",
      "change": "Initial draft entry from cited open sources"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-10-03",
      "change": "Added payload options and capabilities"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-10-04",
      "change": "Added photo (Public domain)"
    }
  ],
  "art": "fighter",
  "image": {
    "file": "f-35a.jpg",
    "thumb": "f-35a-thumb.jpg",
    "credit": "Airman 1st Class Alexander Cook",
    "license": "Public domain",
    "url": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:F-35_Heritage_Flight_Team_performs_in_Bell_Fort_Worth_Alliance_AirShow.jpg",
    "title": "File:F-35 Heritage Flight Team performs in Bell Fort Worth Alliance AirShow.jpg"
  },
  "payloads": [
    {
      "name": "GAU-22/A cannon",
      "role": "Internal 25 mm gun",
      "src": [
        "lm-f35-fastfacts"
      ],
      "conf": "high",
      "qty": "1 internal",
      "caps": {}
    },
    {
      "name": "AIM-120C/D AMRAAM",
      "role": "Air-to-air missile",
      "src": [
        "lm-f35-fastfacts"
      ],
      "conf": "high",
      "qty": "2 internal (standard load)",
      "caps": {}
    },
    {
      "name": "GBU-31 JDAM",
      "role": "2,000-lb GPS-guided bomb",
      "src": [
        "lm-f35-fastfacts"
      ],
      "conf": "high",
      "qty": "2 internal (standard load)",
      "caps": {}
    },
    {
      "name": "External stations",
      "role": "Non-stealth configuration",
      "src": [
        "afa-f35"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "qty": "6 wing stations",
      "caps": {},
      "note": "Up to 22,000 lb on 10 stations (2 internal bays plus wing)"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/f-35a.html",
  "sources": {
    "lm-f35-fastfacts": {
      "title": "F-35 Fast Facts",
      "publisher": "Lockheed Martin",
      "url": "https://www.f35.com/content/dam/lockheed-martin/aero/f35/documents/FG21-00000_001%20F35FastFacts4_2021.pdf",
      "published": "2021-04-01",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-10-03"
    },
    "af-f35a": {
      "title": "F-35A Lightning II fact sheet",
      "publisher": "U.S. Air Force",
      "url": "https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/478441/f-35a-lightning-ii-conventional-takeoff-and-landing-variant/",
      "published": null,
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-10-03"
    },
    "afa-f35": {
      "title": "F-35 Lightning II",
      "publisher": "Air & Space Forces Magazine",
      "url": "https://www.airandspaceforces.com/weapons/f-35/",
      "published": "2026-06-16",
      "tier": 3,
      "checked": "2026-10-03"
    }
  }
}