Changes

The Lightning II evolved from the X-35, the winning design in the USAF Joint Strike Fighter  (JSF) design competition.  The Lockheed Martin design defeated the Boeing designed X-32.

The Lightning II evolved from the X-35, the winning design in the USAF Joint Strike Fighter  (JSF) design competition.  The Lockheed Martin design defeated the Boeing designed X-32.

The  JSF concept involves a single common airframe with multiple variants to fulfill multiple roles. As such, the F-35 has three distinct variants.  The F-35A is the conventional take off (CTOL) version primarily intended for the USAF as a replacement for the aging F-16 Falcon.  The F-35B is a short take off/vertical landing (STOVL) version intended primarily for the USMC asa replacement for the AV-8B Harrier.  The F-35C is a carrier based variant intended primarily for the USN as a replacement for older model F-18 Hornets (A/B/C variants) which in turn replaced the venerable Vought A-7 Corsair and Grumman A-6 Intruder.

The  JSF concept involves a single common airframe with multiple variants to fulfill multiple roles. As such, the F-35 has three distinct variants.  The F-35A is the conventional take off (CTOL) version primarily intended for the USAF as a replacement for the aging F-16 Falcon.  The F-35B is a short take off/vertical landing (STOVL) version intended primarily for the USMC as a replacement for the AV-8B Harrier.  The F-35C is a carrier based variant intended primarily for the USN as a replacement for older model F-18 Hornets (A/B/C variants) which in turn replaced the venerable Vought A-7 Corsair and Grumman A-6 Intruder.