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The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a fifth-generation stealth multirole fighter, and is intended to replace the F-16 Fighting Falcon or even older models in many Western air forces, with the US Air Force remaining by far the largest customer.
The F-35 is manufactured in three main variants: the conventional F-35A, the VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) F-35B, and the F-35C which is modified for US aircraft carriers.
The most striking technical feature of the F-35 is its distinctive stealth characteristics, which reduce the range of enemy reconnaissance technology to a fraction of that of conventional multi-purpose combat aircraft (e.g. F-15E or Su-30).
Since the F-35 is designed as a multi-purpose combat aircraft, it has a large selection of missiles and bombs at its disposal. The F-35s carry their primary armaments in two internal weapon shafts, which have a total of four load stations.
In June 2023, Austrian Eurofighters trained together with F-35s from the Vermont Air National Guard in Zeltweg.
AIRPOWER24 offers one of the rare opportunities to see the F-35 of the US Air Force in Europe in a flying and static display.
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II
