Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II isn't just one jet; it's a whole family of advanced, stealthy fighter aircraft designed to handle air superiority, strike missions, and intelligence gathering. Lockheed Martin is the main builder, working with partners like Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. You'll find it in three main flavors: the F-35A, which takes off and lands like a traditional jet; the F-35B, capable of short takeoffs and vertical landings; and the F-35C, built for carrier operations with catapults and arresting gear. As of April 2026, with 883 aircraft in service worldwide, it holds the title of the most numerous stealth aircraft out there.

The story of the F-35 began with the Lockheed Martin X-35. In 2001, its design beat out Boeing's X-32 to win the highly competitive Joint Strike Fighter program. The goal was ambitious: create a single aircraft type that could replace older jets like the F-16 Fighting Falcon, F/A-18 Hornet, and AV-8B Harrier II for the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, as well as for allied nations. While the U.S. footed most of the development bill, key NATO members and Australia also contributed. Turkey was part of the program until 2019, when it was removed due to its acquisition of Russian missile systems. Today, the U.S. operates all three variants. Italy and Japan fly both the F-35A and F-35B. Australia, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and South Korea have opted for the F-35A, while the United Kingdom uses the F-35B. Israel has its own specialized F-35I variant. Six more NATO members, plus Switzerland and Singapore, have ordered the jet, with others showing interest.

It's no secret that the F-35 program has faced its share of bumps. The sheer scale, complexity, and cost overruns, along with development delays, have drawn considerable attention. But the program is moving forward. By 2024, the projected total cost through 2088 was estimated at $2 trillion. For context, the average cost to build each jet (without the engine) breaks down roughly to $82.5 million for the F-35A, $109 million for the F-35B, and $102.1 million for the F-35C. The F135 engine adds another $20.4 million as of 2025. The first F-35 took flight in 2006, entering service with the Marine Corps in 2015, the Air Force in 2016, and the Navy in 2019. Its combat debut happened in 2018 when Israeli F-35s conducted strikes in Syria. Since then, F-35s have been deployed in combat zones including Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen by various operators. Some F-35A variants are also capable of carrying nuclear weapons, with deployments planned or underway in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, and similar capabilities being explored by other nations.[edit]