About the F-35

Following an intense four-year competition, the U.S. Department of Defense on 26 October 2001, named the Lockheed Martin lead Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) team as the winner of the contract to develop the F-35 Lightning II. The F-35 team immediately entered the program’s 10-year System Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase.
The SDD period involves the development and testing of the entire aircraft system, including its manufacture. During SDD, the team will build a total of 22 test aircraft. Fourteen will undergo flight-testing, seven will be used for non-airborne test activities, and one will be used to evaluate the F-35’s radar signature.
Nine nations are partnering in the F-35’s SDD phase: The United States, United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Denmark, Norway and Australia. Partnership in SDD entitles those countries to bid for work on a best value basis, and participate in the aircraft’s development. Additionally, Israel and Singapore have agreed to join the program as a Security Cooperation Participants.
Lockheed Martin is the F-35 prime contractor, while Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems are principal partners in the project.
Final assembly of the F-35 takes place at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company in Fort Worth, Texas. Northrop Grumman Corporation in Palmdale and El Segundo, California will manufacture the center-fuselage, and the aft fuselage and tails will be manufactured by BAE Systems in Samlesbury, England. Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth will manufacture the forward fuselage and wings.

F-35 VARIANTS

Conventional Take Off & Landing (CTOL)
Span (ft) 35
Length (ft) 50.5
Wing Area (ft2) 460
Internal Fuel (lb) 18,498

Short Take Off/Vertical Landing (STOVL)
Span (ft) 35
Length (ft) 50.5
Wing Area (ft2) 460
Internal Fuel (lb) 13,326

​Carrier Variant (CV)
Span (ft) 43
Length (ft) 50.8
Wing Area (ft2) 620
Internal Fuel (lb) 19,624

​For more detailed information go to ​https://www.f35.com