X-Nico

6 unusual facts about Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II


Commercial off-the-shelf

Applying the lessons of processor obsolescence learned during the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II planned for processor upgrades during development, and switched to the more widely supported C++ programming language.

Dan Gouré

He also supports the production of several thousand nuclear-capable Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II stealth tactical fighter-bombers.

Mockup

They can also be used for public display and demonstration purposes prior to the development of a prototype, as with the case of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II mock-up aircraft.

Parker Hannifin

On 18 January 2013, the F-35B variant of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II was grounded after the failure of a fueldraulic line in the aircraft's propulsion system that controls the exhaust vectoring system.

Qatar Air Force

As of January 2011, the Air Force is evaluating the Eurofighter Typhoon, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, the Boeing F-15E and the Dassault Rafale to replace its current fighter inventory of Dassault Mirage 2000-5s.

Unison Industries

They were also involved in the development of the General Electric/Rolls-Royce F136 turbofan engine used in the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.


America-class amphibious assault ship

The typical aircraft complement for the first two vessels is expected to be 12 MV-22B Osprey transports, six STOVL F-35B Lightning II multirole jet aircraft, four CH-53K heavy transport helicopters, seven AH-1Z/UH-1Y attack helicopters, and two Navy MH-60S Knighthawks for air-sea rescue.

Expeditionary maneuver warfare

This concept has influenced Marine Corps equipment procurement in recent years, leading to the purchase of the MV-22 Osprey, Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle, F-35 Lightning II and the M777 Lightweight Howitzer.

Low Cost Miniature Cruise Missile

The Low Cost Miniature Cruise Missile (LCMCM) is a Lockheed Martin program to develop a small, affordable cruise missile which will fit inside the internal weapons bay of the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II.

Overengineering

Second World War German tanks are typical examples of overengineered vehicles, which made them more expensive, fewer in number, more difficult to produce and heavier than their Soviet and Allied counterparts, while F-22 and F-35 fighters may be considered as examples of modern-day overengineering.

Shigeru Iwasaki

As Chief of Staff, he spearheaded the effort to procure the fifth generation Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.

Turboshaft

An unusual example of the turboshaft principle is the Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-600 engine for the STOVL F-35B - in conventional mode it operates as a turbofan, but when powering the LiftFan, it switches partially to turboshaft mode to send power forward through a shaft (like a turboprop) and partially to turbojet mode to continue to send thrust to the rear nozzle.


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