The Most Advanced Fighter Jet in the World
The F-35 strengthens national security, enhances global partnerships and powers economic growth. It is the most lethal, survivable and connected fighter aircraft in the world, giving pilots an advantage against any adversary and enabling them to execute their mission and come home safe.
As adversaries advance and legacy aircraft age, the F-35 is critical to maintaining air dominance for decades to come.
The F-35 team is delivering integrated sustainment capabilities to ensure the F-35 is mission-ready, anytime and anywhere. Because minutes matter, Lockheed Martin’s 24/7 operations centers and sustainment engineers partner closely with our customers to solve new challenges and meet the needs of the flight line.
F-35 FAQ
A. The F-35 is the most lethal, survivable and connected fighter aircraft in production today, giving pilots an advantage against any adversary and enabling them to execute their mission and come home safe.
It strengthens America’s national security, enhances global partnerships and powers economic growth for America and its allies.
The F-35 is combat-proven, and its versatility and value is unmatched.
With more than a million flight hours, 12 nations operating across the global fleet – with more nations to come – and more than 1,150 aircraft in service, the F-35 is an indispensable contributor to global security.
A. The F-35 is the aircraft of choice for the United States and 19 allied nations, enhancing global security and deterring threats worldwide.
F-35 Partner Countries: U.S., U.K., Italy, Netherlands, Canada, Australia, Denmark, Norway
F-35 Foreign Military Sales Customers: Israel, Japan, Republic of Korea, Belgium, Poland, Singapore, Finland, Switzerland, Germany, Czech Republic, Greece, Romania
The F-35 delivers stability, seamless interoperability, and unmatched value—strengthening alliances and enabling shared deterrence through integrated operations.
The growing global fleet of F-35s is a powerful force for peace through strength.
A. Stealth doesn’t make the F-35 invisible, but it does greatly complicate an adversary’s ability to find and target the jet.
The F-35’s shape and internal sensors, weapons and fuel all contribute to the F-35’s stealth, or “low observability.”
- Aligned edges: Specific geometric shapes and angles on the F-35 disrupt radar return – bouncing or trapping radar reflections.
- Radar absorbent coating: The gray “paint” on the F-35 reduces and absorbs radar signals.
- Embedded sensors, weapons, and fuel: Internal sensors enable the F-35 to maintain its stealth and aerodynamics. Internal weapons and fuel further reduce the F-35’s radar signature.
- Reduced engine signature: The F-35’s design minimizes the aircraft’s infrared “heat” signature.;
- Electronic warfare: The F-35’s advanced electronic warfare system allows pilots to engage or jam electromagnetic threats.
All of this and more gives F-35 pilots an unfair advantage against threats from the air, land and sea.
A. The F-35 is the world’s most advanced and lethal fighter jet.
The 5th Generation F-35 combines advanced stealth, sensors and information fusion in a supersonic, highly maneuverable fighter.
As adversaries seek to erode our military advantage, the F-35’s unprecedented ability to combine battlefield intelligence and technology across every domain—land, sea, air, space, cyber—gives it an overwhelming edge in capability over the alternatives
More than 1,000 F-35s have been delivered to three American military services and allies around the world. Twenty nations and counting will operate F-35s.;
All three F-35 variants have conducted combat operations and the F-35 is one of the most reliable aircraft in operation today.
Block 4 upgrades are bringing even more advanced capabilities to the F-35.
Now and in the future, F-35s, uncrewed aircraft, artificial intelligence and more will need to work together to ensure American and allied air dominance.
A. The F-35 provides advanced, cost-competitive 5th Generation capabilities to America and allies around the world.
Since 2015, we lowered Lockheed Martin’s portion of the F-35 cost per flight hour by 50%.
The F-35 is also America’s most valuable and important defense program, bringing approximately $72 billion into the American economy each year.
Affordability has been a key factor in many nations’ decision to procure F-35s. Romania, Canada, Germany, Finland and Switzerland all found the F-35 to be the most affordable procurement option on the market.;
A. More than 1,000 F-35s have been delivered to America’s military and allies around the world. Twenty nations and counting will operate F-35s.
This growing global fleet reflects strong demand from allies and partners who recognize the F-35’s unmatched capabilities.
F-35 production continues today at a steady pace, with an expected annual rate of 156 aircraft.
Every F-35 delivered strengthens global security, enhances allied interoperability, and ensures America and allies dominate the skies today and over the horizon.
A: No, the discoloration often observed on F-35s—especially after shipboard or high-tempo deployments—is a common and expected result of operating in harsh environments, and it does not indicate corrosion or degradation of performance.
These surface changes are cosmetic, caused by exposure to sea spray, fuel, oils, and jet blast, and do not compromise the aircraft’s stealth or structural integrity.
In fact, the F-35 program has taken significant proactive steps to enhance durability and reduce visible wear, including introducing a next-generation coating that resists discoloration and extends service life.
Backed by a robust, evolving corrosion control strategy and the dedication of expert maintainers and engineers, the F-35 remains mission-ready and built to endure—even in the most demanding conditions.
