- Yes
- No
Lockheed-Martin F-35A Lightning II - JASDF’s 5th Generation Fighter Gap Filler
Hi and welcome to my 84th, which is about the JASDF F-35A, hope you like it. 
First of all:
- Feel free to share more Information and / or correct me if something is wrong
- Discuss respectfully, any aggressive kind or verbal abuse will be reported, the Forum rules also apply here
Background History
The requirements for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) were developed from 1993 as part of the Joint Advanced Strike Technology (JAST) program. Boeing competed with the X-32 and Lockheed Martin with the X-35 to meet the JSF requirements, in particular the operational capability of VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) technology. The X-35 completed its first successful test flights in 2000 and 2001 and demonstrated various possible uses in three versions: the X-35A for the Air Force, the X-35B for vertical take-off and landing, and the X-35C for carrier missions.
After successfully completing the competition, Lockheed Martin was selected as the lead developer in 2001 and formed the F-35 JSF team together with BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman. Originally, Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce worked on the engines, but the contract with Rolls-Royce was canceled under the Bush administration. The development resulted in the F-35 Lightning II, named after the P-38 Lightning and the English Electric Lightning.
Production of the prototypes began in 2004, and the name Lightning II was announced in 2006. In total, more than 2,700 machines are to be built for the USA, with several international partner countries involved in the development.
Japan had already selected the F-35A as the successor to the F-4EJ Kai in December 2011 and was the first country to order the F-35A without having participated in the original development program (SDD). By the end of March 2023, the JASDF will have 33 F-35As in its fleet, which will also replace the older F-15J models.
As a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) participant, Japan has a fixed procurement program for a total of 127 F-35 aircraft, including 105 F-35As and up to 42 F-35B models. This makes Japan the largest international customer of the F-35 program.
One of the three Final Assembly and Check-Out (FACO) plants for the F-35 program is located in Nagoya, Japan. In cooperation with Japanese industry, the FACO plant handles the final steps for the JASDF. Japan’s F-35B models, on the other hand, are manufactured in the USA at the Lockheed Martin plant in Fort Worth, Texas.
Armament of the F-35A
The armament of the JASDF’s F-35A consists mainly of the typical air-to-air missiles AIM-9X and AIM-120C, as well as the existing or already ordered JASSM-ER and JSM. It is not known which block with which upgrades the JASDF already has, but it can be assumed that the TR-3 package is or will also exist, as well as the Block 4 upgrade which fits the previously mentioned order.
The main armament is a 25mm GAU-22/A with 80 rounds. It is unknown whether a Japan-dedicated variant with, for example, AAM-5(B) and AAM-4(B) compatibility will be available in the future, or in the case of the AAM-4, unlikely, as the integration of this is considered too complicated and cost-intensive, whereby the J/ARG-1 transmitter would also have to have its place somewhere, but also more likely integration of AIM-260 JATM and AN/APG-85 (currently AN/APG-81).
Air-to-Air Missiles
- AIM-9X-2
- AIM-120C-5
- AIM-120C-7
- AIM-120C-8
Guided- / Dumb-Bombs
- GBU-12
- GBU-31(V)1
- GBU-31(V)3
- GBU-39/B
Air-to-Surface Missiles
- JSM
- JASSM-ER
Specifications, Electronics and Internal
- Crew: 1
- Length: 15,7 m
- Wingspan: 15,7 m
- Height: 15,7 m
- Max. takeoff weight:
- Powerplant: 1x Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100
- Dry thrust: 125 kN
- Afterburner thrust: 191 kN
- Maximum speed: Mach 1.6
- Service ceiling: 15.000 m
- Thrust to weight: 1.07
- Maximum g-load: +9g / -3g
Thanks for your time, hope you liked it 
[Will add more if there are some (more) important / declassified things]
[PM or comment if a Link or Picture isn´t working]
Sources:
