The F-35A Lightning II is a fifth-generation, single-seat, single-engine multirole fighter aircraft developed by Lockheed Martin for the United States Air Force (USAF) and its allies. It is part of a family of three aircraft variants, including the F-35B and F-35C, designed for use by the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy, respectively.
The F-35A Lightning II is a stealth aircraft, designed to evade detection by radar and other sensors. It is also equipped with advanced avionics and sensor systems, enabling it to perform a range of missions, including air-to-air combat, air-to-ground strikes, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare.
The F-35A is the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant of the F-35 family, designed to operate from conventional runways. It features a unique lift-fan system that provides the aircraft with short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) capabilities, allowing it to operate from small, austere airfields and amphibious assault ships.
The F-35A has a range of over 1,200 nautical miles, can fly at speeds of up to Mach 1.6, and has a maximum takeoff weight of 70,000 pounds. It is armed with a variety of weapons, including air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles, and bombs, and can carry up to 18,000 pounds of external stores.
The F-35A has been used in combat operations by the U.S. Air Force and its allies, including Israel and the United Kingdom. The aircraft is expected to be a critical component of the U.S. military's fighter fleet for decades to come.
Maciej "Szamal" Szamałek is an aviation photographer from Poland who specializes in air-to-air photography. For him, photography is a form of play, to express his aviation passion. It helps him to capture fleeting moments and allows him to preserve emotions, sorrows, joys, and memories. It's a constant pursuit to be in the right place at the right time.