The U.S. Air Force wanted an upgrade. It wanted a better fighter jet. One that could stay hidden from the enemy. One that could attack and destroy. One that could defend itself. One that could keep pilots safe. Keep U.S. ground troops safe. Keep Americans safe. Keep the world safe. A jet fighter that all friendly nations could use. This book is all about that aircraft. Part of the America's Fighter Jets series: F-35A Lightning II puts readers into the sky with the jet. This fun book gives young readers insight on how the F-35A Lightning II achieved its goals. And why fewer of them might be made in the future.

An amazing HILO series built to hit multiple NGSS (systems, patterns, scales and math), STEM and technology benchmarks. This profile of the F-35 Lightning II is driven by great photos and powerful infographics. Readers will soar alongside one of the fastest and most powerful military aircraft in the air today.

Ultimate Fighter tells how a series of little-known technology programs coalesced into a 3,000-airplane plan - the F-35 joint strike fighter (JSF). As one of the first major aircraft programs to start from scratch in the era of information technology, the JSF virtually flies itself, while the pilot manages the mission with the help of very acute high-resolution sensors and displays. The F-35 is one of the biggest single military projects in history - but it was born as a compromise between the needs of three U.S. services in the budget-strapped post-Cold War era. Author Bill Sweetman chronicles the high stakes competition between two aviation giants, Lockheed Martin and Boeing, to build the Joint Strike Fighter - the next generation fighter jet.

The Lockheed Martin X-35 Concept Demonstrator Aircraft was the winning contender in the international Joint Strike Fighter program, which led to X-35 and rival Boeing X-32, both of which were demonstrated in 2000/2001, with the prize being nothing less than domination of the production of 5th generation combat aircraft for the United States and many other countries for the next few decades. The JSF program, which spawned the X-35, was borne out a number of different research programs conducted in the 1980's and 1990's. A number of programs were combined to form a core program to replace a number of different legacy aircraft types on both sides of the Atlantic. The X-35 would be further developed into the F-35 Lightning II 5th generation strike fighter, formerly known as the JSF (Joint Strike Fighter), entering service with air forces on both sides of the Atlantic. This volume details the genesis of the Joint Strike Fighter program and describes the development, manufacture and flight testing of all three variants of the X-35: the X-35A conventional take-off and landing; X-35B short take off and vertical landing and the X-35C aircraft carrier variant, along with an overview of the rival Boeing X-32 design. Chronologies detail the flight test program of the Lockheed Martin X-35 and the Boeing X-32 aircraft.

A detailed look at the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, including the ground-breaking technologies of the JSF. Covers all versions of the F-35 and details international participation in the program. Includes over 180 photos, paintings, and diagrams of the F-35. 110 pages in full color.

The largest procurement program in the Department of Defense (DOD), the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), also called the Lightning II, is a strike fighter aircraft being procured in different versions for the United States Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy. The F-35 Lightning II is intended to replace a variety of existing aircraft in the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, while providing the most supportable, technologically advanced, lethal, and survivable aircraft to date. The F-35 is DOD's most expensive weapon system. This book addresses F-35 program performance during 2012, including testing, technical risks, and software; manufacturing performance indicators, production results, and design changes; and acquisition and sustainment costs going forward. This book also addresses the extent to which DOD has developed an F-35 sustainment strategy and addressed potential risks related to affordability and operational readiness; and developed a reliable O&S cost estimate for the program's life cycle.

This book analyzes the development and evolution of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, a multinational aircraft endeavor involving the U.S. and many of its allies. The author provides a historical overview of jet fighter aircraft, discussing the different generations of these planes and their technical characteristics, as well as an outline of emerging international geopolitical and security trends the F-35 may see combat in. By examining the role of defense industries, domestic politics, and governmental oversight of the Joint Strike Fighter in various countries, the author concludes that this aircraft will be deployed in most of these countries to replace their aging jet fighter fleets and combat potential military aggression from China, Russia, and other revisionist international powers.