Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II (lightning) is a single-seat, single-engine multi-role fighter built by Lockheed Martin as a fifth generation machine, which is to meet the needs of the USAAF, US Navy, US Army and US Marine Corps. Originally the machine was called the X-35 JSF, but in 2006 it was changed to the F-35 Lightning II. Despite the fact that the main recipient will be the US government, the project is also co-financed by other countries, especially Great Britain, Italy and the Netherlands. The main contractors are: Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. The overriding goal of the JSF idea is to create a universal machine, produced for all types of armed forces, which will allow for far-reaching standardization of spare parts and a significant reduction in costs. Finally, three versions of the F-35 (A, B and C) are to be built, which will have more than three-quarters of the same elements. The main task of the F-35 of all versions is to attack land targets, perform the tasks of a battlefield plane, air combat and electronic combat. It should be noted that the F-35 is designed for conflicts of a low intensity, in contrast to its larger "relative" F-22. Which does not change the fact that thanks to the propulsion unit used (Pratt-Whitney F135 engines), avionics and Stealth properties, it is one of the most modern multi-role aircraft in the world. The first serial F-35 was made in February 2006. Until now (2013), 63 aircraft of this type have been built. Technical data (version F-35A): Maximum speed: 1930 km / h, maximum ceiling 18288 m, maximum range: 2220 km, armament: fixed - one four-barrel General Dynamics GAU-22 / A 25mm cannon, suspended - up to 8100 kg load.
