F-35 Lightning II B
Controls:
, – Engine Reverse
Keypad0- Engage air brake
Keypad1- Turn on/off afterburner
Keypad2- Retract/retrieve landing gear
Keypad3- Engage engine
Keypad4- Turn vertical landing mode on/off (for shortened takeoff mode press Keypad3 and Keypad4)
Keypad5- Fire the main gun
Keypad6- Lower the nose down
Keypad7- Fire the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile.
Keypad8- Fire the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile.
Keypad9- Raise the nose up
*- Release two JDAM bombs
Features:
Does not require mods
Very fast
History:
The F-35 design choice was made in 2001 as a result of the JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) program competition between Boeing (X-32 model) and Lockheed Martin (X-35 model). The program envisioned the creation of a single fighter model for the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps with short takeoff and vertical takeoff and landing capabilities to replace the F-16, A-10, F/A-18, AV-8B. It was also intended to replace the British Sea Harrier. A third model by McDonnell Douglas was rejected due to the complexity of the design.
Joint tests of the X-32 and X-35 showed a clear advantage of the latter: it demonstrated takeoff from a 150-meter-long pad, developed supersonic speed, landed and took off vertically. One of the main advantages was called the method of creating vertical thrust: a special lift fan on the X-35, rather than the extraction of air flow of the outer circuit of the main engines, as on the X-32, which forced to install the engine in the center of mass, and nozzles were close to the air intakes, which led to the danger of getting into the engine exhaust gases and a significant reduction in thrust.
As a result, it was decided to develop unified designs of NATO fighter-bombers for land-based and sea-based fighters. The program was co-financed by the United States and Great Britain ($2.5 billion), Italy ($1.0 billion), the Netherlands ($800 million), Canada ($440 million), Turkey ($175 million), Australia ($144 million), Norway ($122 million), and Denmark ($110 million). The plan was to spend $233 billion to develop and acquire the aircraft, but the program has been significantly delayed and has gone over budget. U.S. spending over the next 15 years is projected to total $379 billion. Because of the high price tag, the large number of aircraft being purchased, and plans for long-term operations, the total cost of maintaining and modernizing the F-35 could end up exceeding $1 trillion in 50 years.
There are three levels of international participation. The levels generally reflect the financial share in the JSF program.
