X

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program (pictures)

The next generation of strike aircraft for the Navy, Air Force, and Marines.

James Martin
James Martin is the Managing Editor of Photography at CNET. His photos capture technology's impact on society - from the widening wealth gap in San Francisco, to the European refugee crisis and Rwanda's efforts to improve health care. From the technology pioneers of Google and Facebook, photographing Apple's Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Google's Sundar Pichai, to the most groundbreaking launches at Apple and NASA, his is a dream job for any documentary photography and journalist with a love for technology. Exhibited widely, syndicated and reprinted thousands of times over the years, James follows the people and places behind the technology changing our world, bringing their stories and ideas to life.
James Martin
sdd_f35testa_118.jpg
1 of 10 Department of Defense

In formation

Three F-35 A-Variant fighter planes are seen here in formation.

The fighter's propulsion system features the most powerful fighter/attack turbofans in the world, according to the Pentagon. But a crack recently discovered in one of the turbine blades is the reason for the current grounding of the next-generation fighter jet.

The Pratt & Whitney F135 engine family consists of a three-stage fan, a six-stage compressor, an annular combustor, a single-stage high-pressure turbine, and a two-stage low-pressure turbine.
sdd_f35testa_041.jpg
2 of 10 Department of Defense

Money-saving diagnostics

The F-35 will have next-generation Autonomic Logistics (AL) -- essentially advanced diagnostics that will assist with systems monitoring, maintenance, and prognostics to support the aircraft. The Pentagon says that historically, more-traditional diagnostics have accounted for two-thirds of an aircraft's life-cycle cost.
sdd_f35testc_048_1.jpg
3 of 10 Andy Wolfe

Belly of the beast

The underside of an F-35C is seen here during a test flight.

Though the F-35 comes in three variants, specialized for unique use cases, systems-commonality is the key to affordability, says the Pentagon.

These common systems enhance maintenance, field support, and service interoperability. The Joint Strike Fighter is also designed to integrate new technologies during its entire life-cycle.
sdd_f35testb_174.jpg
4 of 10 Andy Wolfe

A protective sphere for pilots

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control and Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems have designed the sensor array technology for the F-35, which the Pentagon says will provide pilots with a unique protective sphere around the aircraft for enhanced situational awareness, missile warning, aircraft warning, day/night pilot vision, and fire-control capabilities.
sdd_f35testb_104_1.jpg
5 of 10 Department of Defense

Electro-Optical Targeting System

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control and Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems have also developed the Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS), which provides extended range detection and precision targeting against ground targets, including advanced long range detection of air-to-air threats.
sdd_f35testa_152.jpg
6 of 10 Department of Defense

High-tech helmet

Vision Systems International has developed the advanced Helmet Mounted Display System (HMDS) for the F-35, which will enhance the pilot's situational awareness and ability to access the wide array of sensor data.
F-35-12J00552_08.jpg
7 of 10 Department of Defense

Satellite communications

The Pentagon says the F-35 will possess a satellite communications capability that integrates beyond-line-of-sight communications and will lead the defense community in the migration to the Net-centric war-fighting force of the future.
sdd_f35testa_121.jpg
8 of 10 Department of Defense

Dodging radar

Advanced radar-evading technology gives the F-35 extreme stealth features with an integrated airframe design, use of advanced materials, and an axisymmetric nozzle.
sdd_lripa_003.jpg
9 of 10 Department of Defense

The Air Force's F-35A

Here, we see the F-35A variant -- the Air Force's lightweight and agile fighter jet.
sdd_f35testa_156.jpg
10 of 10 Department of Defense

F-35 weapons integration

The F-35 will be capable of carrying both U.S. and allied weapons. From JDAMs to Sidewinders to the UK Storm Shadow, the F-35 has been designed to carry either internally or externally a large array of weapons.

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos