lockheed martin f 35 lightning ii cockpit

LOCKHEED MARTIN F 35 LIGHTNING II COCKPIT SOFTWARE

It covers those on the learning curve aiming to reach the top as well as on already qualified fighter pilots training to fly the new aircraft. The series takes viewers inside the cockpit for a vivid insight into the challenges faced by the men and women who aim to become the UK military’s top guns. Lockheed Martin also states that 15 per cent of the parts for each Lightning come from British companies including Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems.ġ2 countries have confirmed orders for the F-35 Lightning (Getty Images) What happens in Fighter Pilot: The Real Top Gun?įighter Pilot: The Real Top Gun, which airs in three parts on ITV, boasts exclusive access to the RAF’s F35 fighter programme and to the Ministry Of Defence’s fast jet recruitment process. Its short take-off and vertical landing capabilities mean the aircraft can be launched from the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, currently the HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. The RAF has committed to buy 48 of the jets by 2025, and subsequently a further 90, with the Lightning intended as the replacement for the retired Harrier GR9 and Tornado GR4 jets. However, its first iteration, the F-35B, was eventually introduced for the US Marines in 2015, with the F-35A arriving with the US Air Force in 2016 and the F-35C earlier this year.Īround 420 have now been produced, with the Lightning first entering combat in 2018 with the Israeli Air Force, one of 12 countries outside the US to commit to orders for the aircraft.

LOCKHEED MARTIN F 35 LIGHTNING II COCKPIT SOFTWARE

The Lightning faced criticism during its development, which began in 1992, for being “plagued with design flaws” and for falling behind schedule while also going well over budget.Īn investigation by The Timesalso found the F-35s could not transmit data to older planes without revealing its own position to the enemy, while its weight, onboard software and range at max speed (around 150 miles) also facing scrutiny. The development of the F-35 Lightning II is the most expensive military programme in history (AFP/Getty Images)

Lockheed martin f 35 lightning ii cockpit