Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II

The publication describes in detail the development, testing and introduction of all versions of the F-35 into the US Air Force, their service in allied air forces, including new ones waiting for its inclusion in the arsenal, which includes Czech Republic, which plans to purchase 24 machines.

The Lockheed Martin F-35 multirole aircraft represents a new standard for the US and many allied countries. It follows the highly successful F-16 Fighting Falcon, which has lasted more than forty years in service thanks to continuous fleet upgrades. And it was this long span of time that gave the designers of the new aircraft time to complete it in a form that is far removed from the capabilities of the previous generation. The F-35 is therefore often referred to as the first full-fledged fifth-generation aircraft designed for the networked, fully digital battlefield. The aircraft's sensor capabilities are unmatched by any other type in the world, surpassing even the frontline F-22 Raptor. In addition, the aircraft is designed for the broad sharing of information between individual machines and users at the same time, and for the first time it comes with truly guaranteed compatibility between individual states. Compared to the previous generation, the manufacturer's approach has also changed, and they no longer want to allow individual users to carry out independent machine upgrades, although their industry is involved in production. On the contrary, everything should be centralized in order to maintain a wide degree of compatibility in the future. The F-35 is also an aircraft that brings a new level of variability, as it is produced in a version for classic use from land bases, or in a version for vertical landing or operation from the short decks of aircraft carriers. On the other hand, the F-35 was the target of enormous criticism from the beginning, whether during the period of comparison of the X-32 and X-35 prototypes, during the tests of the first pre-production F-35 or during the introduction of the machines into regular service. One of the most common criticisms is the high price, limited maneuverability and high maintenance requirements. But after a closer acquaintance with the F-35 concept, one cannot help but conclude that the capabilities of the aircraft are so broad that its deployment in classic maneuvering combat would be the result of a complete misunderstanding and failure to use the capabilities of the aircraft.