Development

JSF Program History

Requirement

An F-35 wind tunnel testing model in the Arnold Engineering Development Center's 16-foot transonic wind tunnel
The JSF program was designed to replace the U.S. military's F-16, A-10, F/A-18 and AV-8B tactical fighter aircraft. To keep development, production, and operating costs down, a common design was planned in three variants that share 80% of their parts:

* F-35A, conventional take off and landing (CTOL) variant.
* F-35B, short-take off and vertical-landing (STOVL) variant.
* F-35C, carrier-based CATOBAR (CV) variant.

The F-35 is intended to be the world's premier strike aircraft through 2040, with close- and long-range air-to-air capability second only to that of the F-22 Raptor. The F-35 is required to be four times more effective than existing fighters in air-to-air combat, eight times more effective in air-to-ground combat, and three times more effective in reconnaissance and suppression of air defenses – while having better range and requiring less logistics support.

With takeoff weights up to 60,000 lb (27,000 kg), the F-35 is considerably heavier than the lightweight fighters it replaces. In empty and maximum gross weights, it more closely resembles the single-seat, single-engine Republic F-105 Thunderchief, which was the largest single-engine fighter of the Vietnam era.

Origins and selection

The Joint Strike Fighter evolved out of several requirements for a common fighter to replace existing types. The actual JSF development contract was signed on 16 November 1996.

The contract for System Development and Demonstration (SDD) was awarded on 26 October 2001 to Lockheed Martin, whose X-35 beat the Boeing X-32. Although both met or exceeded requirements, the X-35 exceeded each requirement. The design was considered to have less risk and more growth potential. The designation of the fighter as "F-35" came as a surprise to Lockheed, which had been referring to the aircraft in-house by the designation "F-24".