Program Overview
The F-35 Lightning II is a stealthy, supersonic, multirole fighter designed to meet the requirements of the United States and allied defense forces worldwide for an affordable next generation fighter. It will replace a wide range of aging fighter and strike aircraft currently in the inventories of the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allied defense forces.
Northrop Grumman is a principal member of the Lockheed Martin-led industry team, which is developing and producing three variants. The F-35A is the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant, the F-35B is the short takeoff-vertical landing (STOVL) variant, and the F-35C is the carrier variant (CV).
The program's hallmarks - affordability, survivability, sustainability and lethality - are achieved through the use of the most modern military aircraft technologies, state-of-the-art production facilities, and a high degree of commonality among the three variants. The team is using advanced manufacturing techniques to enable a unique, high-rate production program.
Northrop Grumman plays a critical role in the development, demonstration and production of this multirole fighter, including:
The production of the center fuselage, which forms a significant portion of the aircraft's internal weapons bay and internal fuel capacity
The design and production of the AN/APG-81 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) fire control radar, which brings unmatched capability to air-to-air and air-to-surface missions, complemented by significant electronic warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance functions
The design and production of the AN/AAQ-37 Distributed Aperture System (DAS), which provides simultaneous modes of situational awareness, infrared search and track, missile warning and navigation not available on any other aircraft
The design and production of the AN/ASQ-242 Communications, Navigation and Identification (CNI) avionics suite, which can be dynamically programmed to arm the F-35 pilot with multiple-mission capabilities engineered for seamless transition from one mission phase to the next
The development of mission systems and mission-planning software
The development of pilot and maintenance training system courseware
The management of the team's use, support and maintenance of low-observable technologies
The U.S and eight international partners - Australia, Canada, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Turkey, and the UK - are contributing to the development costs of the aircraft. Northrop Grumman is building an international F-35 supplier team focused on providing "best value" to its customers. To date, the company has awarded some of its most significant subcontracts to firms based in partner countries.
The U.S. Air Force, the eight international partners, Japan, and Israel are purchasing the CTOL variant. The STOVL variant will be operated by the United States Marine Corps, the UK and Italy. The United States Navy and Marine Corps are purchasing the CV variant. Purchases by the U.S. armed forces and these partner countries combined with foreign military sales are expected to exceed 4,000 total aircraft.
Program Overview
The F-35 Lightning II is a stealthy, supersonic, multirole fighter designed to meet the requirements of the United States and allied defense forces worldwide for an affordable next generation fighter. It will replace a wide range of aging fighter and strike aircraft currently in the inventories of the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allied defense forces.
Northrop Grumman is a principal member of the Lockheed Martin-led industry team, which is developing and producing three variants. The F-35A is the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant, the F-35B is the short takeoff-vertical landing (STOVL) variant, and the F-35C is the carrier variant (CV).
The program's hallmarks - affordability, survivability, sustainability and lethality - are achieved through the use of the most modern military aircraft technologies, state-of-the-art production facilities, and a high degree of commonality among the three variants. The team is using advanced manufacturing techniques to enable a unique, high-rate production program.
Northrop Grumman plays a critical role in the development, demonstration and production of this multirole fighter, including:
- The production of the center fuselage, which forms a significant portion of the aircraft's internal weapons bay and internal fuel capacity
- The design and production of the AN/APG-81 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) fire control radar, which brings unmatched capability to air-to-air and air-to-surface missions, complemented by significant electronic warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance functions
- The design and production of the AN/AAQ-37 Distributed Aperture System (DAS), which provides simultaneous modes of situational awareness, infrared search and track, missile warning and navigation not available on any other aircraft
- The design and production of the AN/ASQ-242 Communications, Navigation and Identification (CNI) avionics suite, which can be dynamically programmed to arm the F-35 pilot with multiple-mission capabilities engineered for seamless transition from one mission phase to the next
- The development of mission systems and mission-planning software
- The development of pilot and maintenance training system courseware
- The management of the team's use, support and maintenance of low-observable technologies
The U.S and eight international partners - Australia, Canada, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Turkey, and the UK - are contributing to the development costs of the aircraft. Northrop Grumman is building an international F-35 supplier team focused on providing "best value" to its customers. To date, the company has awarded some of its most significant subcontracts to firms based in partner countries.
The U.S. Air Force, the eight international partners, Japan, and Israel are purchasing the CTOL variant. The STOVL variant will be operated by the United States Marine Corps, the UK and Italy. The United States Navy and Marine Corps are purchasing the CV variant. Purchases by the U.S. armed forces and these partner countries combined with foreign military sales are expected to exceed 4,000 total aircraft.
