Joint Strike Fighter F-35 Aircraft; photo wallpapers: Boeing F-35; The Joint Strike Fighter, which is being built by Lockheed Martin as
the F35, will be known in UK service as the Joint Combat Aircraft (JCA)
and is planned to replace the RAF and RN’s Harriers. Although Lockheed
Martin is the prime contractor, the UK is a Level 1 partner with the US
and a number of British companies, including BAE Systems and
Rolls-Royce, will have extensive involvement in building and developing
the aircraft. The UK version, the F35B, will be a stealthy, multi-role,
all-weather, day & night, fighter/attack air system, designed to
operate as a Short Take-off and Vertically Land (STOVL) aircraft from
land bases and from the next generation of aircraft carriers. This will
give the UK a world-beating land-based and sea-based joint
expeditionary air power capability well into the middle of the century.
When the JCA enters service, it will be able to conduct deep strike
missions, into contemporary Integrated Air Defence Systems, against a
myriad of target sets. Moreover, by conducting robust Integrated Air
Operations, JSF will support friendly ground forces with close air
support, long-range interdiction, anti-surface warfare and tactical
reconnaissance. The aircraft will offer many advantages over legacy
platforms: very low oberservability, supersonic flight, improved
survivability, internal and external weapons carriage, increased range
and easier supply and maintenance.