The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is a military fighter aircraft designed by the United States and the United Kingdom. It is intended to replace the current generation of strike fighters, particularly the vertical take off and landing Harrier jump jets : the AV-8 Harrier II (US), Harrier GR7/9 (UK), and the Sea Harrier (UK), along with the conventional A-10 Thunderbolt II, F/A-18 Hornet and the F-16 Fighting Falcon. It will be a multi-role strike fighter (a plane with a strong emphasis on close air support and tactical bombing as well as being capable of air-to-air combat), and will use stealth technology. It is currently in production with Lockheed Martin, along with partners Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems.
Three variants are planned: the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) F-35A for the U.S. Air Force (USAF); the Short Take-Off Vertical Landing (STOVL) F-35B for the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC), the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Navy (RN); and the carrier-based (CV) F-35C for the U.S. Navy (USN). The joint development program is aimed at controlling development and production costs; the three variants have over 80% of their parts in common.
The F-35, expected to be ready for service in 2011, is scheduled to begin replacing USAF A-10 Thunderbolt II's and F-16's in 2011, and Marine Corps AV-8B Harriers and F/A-18s in 2012.