F-35C Lightning II Fighter Jet

Full Specifications

F-35C Lightning II Fighter Jet— America’s Carrier-Based Stealth Fighter

The F-35C Lightning II is the U.S. Navy’s first stealth multirole fighter designed specifically for aircraft carrier operations. Built by Lockheed Martin, this variant of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program combines stealth, supersonic performance, and unmatched situational awareness to secure U.S. maritime air dominance.

As the carrier variant (CV) of the F-35 family, the F-35C features larger wings, folding wingtips, and reinforced landing gear for catapult launches and arrested recoveries on U.S. Navy supercarriers. It provides naval aviators with advanced sensor fusion, AESA radar, and networked warfare capabilities, enabling the aircraft to operate seamlessly alongside surface fleets, submarines, and other assets.

Powered by a Pratt & Whitney F135 engine, the F-35C reaches speeds over Mach 1.6 with a combat radius exceeding 670 nautical miles, giving it the greatest range of all F-35 variants. Its AN/APG-81 radar, Distributed Aperture System (DAS), and Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) offer 360° awareness and precision targeting.

Operational since 2019, the F-35C equips U.S. Navy carrier air wings and enhances fleet survivability through low observability and real-time data sharing. With its internal weapons bays preserving stealth and external pylons for extended missions, it can carry AIM-120 AMRAAMs, GBU-31 JDAMs, and more.

F-35C Lightning II Price in US

The F-35C Lightning II has an estimated unit cost of $117 million, reflecting its carrier-hardened design, naval integration systems, and advanced stealth coatings optimized for maritime operations.