Die F-35 Lightning II ist das komplexeste und teuerste Waffensystem in der Geschichte der militärischen Luftfahrt. Als Kampfflugzeug der fünften Generation verkörpert sie einen fundamentalen Paradigmenwechsel: Weg von der reinen kinematischen Überlegenheit hin zur Informationsdominanz und spektralen Überlegenheit [1]. Dieser Artikel dokumentiert die zehn zentralen technischen Systeme der F-35 auf Basis verifizierter Originalquellen.
[1] Laird, R. F. & Timperlake, E.: The F-35 and the Future of Power Projection. NDU Press
[3] United States Air Force: F-35A Lightning II Fact Sheet
[4] Lockheed Martin: F-35 Lightning II Broschüre (PDF)
[5] GAO-25-107632: F-35 JSF: Actions Needed to Address Late Deliveries. 2025
[6] RTX / Pratt & Whitney: F135 Engine – Powering the F-35 Lightning II
[7] RTX / Pratt & Whitney: F135 Fast Facts 2025 (PDF)
[8] Pratt & Whitney: F135 Engine Characteristics
[9] Pratt & Whitney: F135 Engine Core Upgrade
[10] Air & Space Forces Magazine: Engine Core Upgrade for F-35 Passes PDR. 2024
[11] Air & Space Forces Magazine: Air Force Skips AETP Engines for F-35, Presses on with NGAP. 2024
[12] Air & Space Forces Magazine: Pentagon Hands Out $7 Billion for NGAP Engine. 2025
[13] Lockheed Martin: F-35 Mission Systems Design, Development, and Verification (PDF)
[14] Northrop Grumman: AN/APG-81 AESA Fire Control Radar
[15] Wikipedia: AN/AAQ-37 Distributed Aperture System
[16] RTX / Raytheon: Electro-Optical Distributed Aperture System
[17] Lockheed Martin: F-35 Electro Optical Targeting System (EOTS)
[18] Lockheed Martin: EOTS Product Card (PDF)
[20] Military Embedded Systems: GaN vs. GaAs for Next-Gen AESA Radar
[21] Qorvo: X-Band Radar: Driving Defense Applications with GaN and GaAs Technology
[22] Military Embedded Systems: GaN Technology in AESA Radar Systems
[23] Northrop Grumman: Developing the Next Generation Radar for the F-35. 2023
[24] Defense News: Key tests for latest F-35s will begin in 2026. 2025
[25] Air University / CASI: A Look at the J-20 AESA Radar
[26] Breaking Defense: Eyeing risk of radar delays, Lockheed proposes new F-35 fuselage design. 2025
[27] FAS Military Analysis Network: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
[28] The War Zone: F-35 Closer To Carrying Six AIM-120 Missiles Internally. 2023
[29] Wikipedia: Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II – Design
[30] GlobalSecurity: Stealth / Low Observable Technology
[31] Wikipedia: Diverterless Supersonic Inlet
[32] The Aviation Geek Club: Luneburg Lens Radar Reflectors. 2022
[33] Fly a Jet Fighter: The F-35 Facing Russian and Chinese VHF Radars. 2023
[34] F35.com: Sensor Fusion in Focus
[35] Lockheed Martin / F35.com: Block 4 Capabilities
[36] Collins Aerospace / RTX: Gen III Helmet Mounted Display System; Elbit Systems of America: F-35 HMDS
[37] NDU Press: The F-35 and the Future of Power Projection
[38] Wikipedia: Multifunction Advanced Data Link
[39] Air & Space Forces Magazine: The F-22 and the F-35 Are Struggling to Talk
[40] The War Zone: F-22 And F-35 Datalinks Finally Talk via U-2 Gateway. 2021
[41] Air & Space Forces Magazine: F-35 Cues Ground Artillery with New Data Gateway. 2025
[42] Bulgarian Military: Danish F-35 fighters test DAGGR-2. 2025
[43] GAO-25-107632: F-35 JSF: Actions Needed to Address Late Deliveries (PDF). 2025
[44] Defense Security Monitor: A Sobering Report on the DoD's Largest Weapons Program. 2025
[45] Air & Space Forces Magazine: F-35 Program Dumps ALIS for ODIN
[46] Air & Space Forces Magazine: First F-35 Block 4 Updates, Block 5. 2025
[47] BAE Systems: AN/ASQ-239 F-35 EW Countermeasure System
[48] Military Embedded Systems: Block 4 work for F-35 EW system gets BAE Systems update. 2023
[49] Microwaves & RF: Enhanced EW Upgrades AN/ASQ-239 System. 2024