F-35A Lightning II

Fifth-generation single-engine stealth multirole fighter and the most-produced 5th-gen aircraft in the world. The conventional take-off A variant combines low observability, sensor fusion and networked warfare for 20 operator nations.

Max speed

1,960 km/h

Range

2,800 km

Payload

8,160 kg

💲 Lot 15-17 flyaway cost, F-35A

Full specifications

Performance

Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.

Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance.: 1,960 km/h

17th pct in class
Max speed (Mach) Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters.: 1.6 Mach

0th pct in class
Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence.: 2,800 km

8th pct in class
Combat radius Distance an aircraft can fly, complete its mission and return without refueling. Roughly a third of ferry range.: 1,240 km

42th pct in class
Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon.: 15,240 m

17th pct in class
Thrust-to-weight Engine thrust divided by loaded weight. Above 1.0 the aircraft can accelerate going straight up.: 0.87

0th pct in class

Firepower

Armament, payload and guidance.

Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type.: 25 mm GAU-22/A rotary cannon
Hardpoints External stations for weapons and pods. More means bigger and more flexible loadouts.: 10

17th pct in class
Weapons payload Maximum ordnance weight the platform can carry. Higher means more strike capacity per sortie.: 8,160 kg

50th pct in class

Protection

Armor, countermeasures and survivability.

Countermeasures Self-protection: chaff, flares, DIRCM, towed decoys, smoke dischargers, jammers.: AN/ASQ-239 Barracuda EW suite, chaff, flares
Signature reduction Radar cross-section shaping, RAM coatings, IR suppression. Actual RCS values are classified.: Very low observable airframe shaping with fiber-mat RAM; internal weapons bays

Physical

Dimensions, weight and crew.

Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable.: 15.67 m
Wingspan Wingtip-to-wingtip span.: 10.7 m
Height Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles.: 4.38 m
Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew.: 13,290 kg
Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor.: 22,470 kg
Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity.: 1

Propulsion

Engine, power and fuel.

Engine Powerplant model and type.: Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 afterburning turbofan
Engines Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost.: 1
Thrust Total engine thrust (with afterburner where applicable).: 191 kN

92th pct in class
Fuel capacity Internal fuel volume.: 10,600 L
Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet…: Turbofan

Sensors & avionics

Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.

Radar Primary radar. AESA (active electronically scanned array) is the current state of the art.: AN/APG-81 AESA
Sensors IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights.: AN/AAQ-40 EOTS, AN/AAQ-37 DAS 360° IR, helmet-mounted display
Datalink Network connectivity: Link 16, MADL, national datalinks. Enables cooperative engagement.: MADL, Link 16

Program

Cost, production scale and operators.

Unit cost Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper.: $82,500,000

45th pct in class
Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability.: 1,100

83th pct in class
Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.: 20

83th pct in class

Specifications compiled from public Lockheed Martin and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations — treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-01.

Frequently asked questions

What is the top speed of the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II? +

The Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II has a maximum speed of 1,960 km/h.

What is the range of the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II? +

The Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II has a maximum range of 2,800 km.

What is the weapons payload of the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II? +

The Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II can carry up to 8,160 kg of weapons payload.

How much does the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II weigh? +

The Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II has a combat weight of 22,470 kg.

How many crew does the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II require? +

The Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II requires a crew of 1.

What is the main armament of the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II? +

The Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II's primary weapon is the 25 mm GAU-22/A rotary cannon.

What engine does the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II use? +

The Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II is powered by the Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 afterburning turbofan.

What is the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II used for? +

The Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II is a fighter aircraft typically used for multirole combat, air superiority, deep strike, isr.

How many countries operate the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II? +

The Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II is operated by 20 countries.

How much does the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II cost? +

The Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II has an approximate unit cost of 82,500,000 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration — treat this as directional.