The F-35 Lightning II is a single-engine, low-visibility fifth-generation fighter aircraft. It is manufactured by a consortium of companies led by Lockheed Martin, with major partners Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems.
The F-35 is currently in an advanced development phase, with the first flight taking place on December 15, 2006.
The F35s arose out of the need for the U.S. Military Forces to replace a number of different fighter jets with a single type.
That is why the aircraft has three sub-versions:
- The F-35A, conventional take-off and landing.
- The F-35B, short take-off and vertical landing.
- The F-35C, for aircraft-based operations.
Also, the F-35 incorporates low-visibility features that make it difficult to detect by enemy aircraft or radar, thus limiting the enemy’s ability to attack or defend effectively.
It has internal armament depots in order to not count the radar trace of the armament in the total trace of the aircraft. Of course, the F-35 can carry more weapons, but this sacrifices to some extent its low visibility.
It is speculated that the Hellenic Air Force wants around 24 F35s in accordance with information from previous government statements but also the expression of interest of the Prime Minister to Trump, with the order coming up in the next 2-3 years, alongside the moment that the new F16 Viper Block 72s of the Hellenic Airforce will start landing en masse on Greek airfields.
Furthermore, the arrival of a game changer like the Rafale jets combined with the F35s in the Aegean from Greece will make the situation for Turkey completely suffocating!
Especially, if it is combined later with a supply of missiles that are now in the process of being integrated into the F35 to replace the F4 Phantoms of Greece, for at least 30 years, Turkey will be unable to do anything offensively in the eastern Mediterranean without risking complete annihilation!