Singapore Airshow 2026: The Lockheed Martin F-35A
- Cornelius Kwok
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Front-Row View of the F-35
Invited to the upper deck of the Lockheed Martin chalet at the Singapore Airshow, Team APP were afforded an elevated and unobstructed view of the aerial display area. With the F-35 Lightning II featured prominently at the show, the vantage point provided an ideal setting to observe the aircraft’s flying display while also examining its presence on the static display.
The aerial demonstration was performed by a single Royal Australian Air Force F-35A, highlighting the aircraft’s agility, flight control precision, and high-energy maneuvering. Complementing the flying display, a United States Air Force F-35A was presented on static display, offering an opportunity to admire the aircraft at a somewhat close range.
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Programme
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II programme is centred on the development of a multi-role, 5th generation combat aircraft designed to operate across highly contested environments. A key feature of the platform is the integration of multiple onboard sensors with data fusion and secure networking, enabling the aircraft to collect and distribute information within joint and coalition operating frameworks.
The programme has been structured to support operations across air, land, maritime, space, and cyber domains, reflecting contemporary requirements for interoperability and multi-domain coordination. As legacy fighter fleets are progressively retired, the F-35 has been adopted by a growing number of air forces to fulfill air combat, strike, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance roles.
F-35 Variant Overview
F-35A Conventional Take-Off & Landing (CTOL)
The F-35A is the conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) variant and is operated by the USAF and multiple international partners. It is the lightest variant within the F-35 family and is designed for operations from standard air bases. The aircraft supports internal and external weapons carriage and is rated for manoeuvres up to 9G. A boom-type aerial refuelling system is standard, with provision available for customer-specific configurations.
F-35B Short Take-Off & Vertical Landing (STOVL)
The F-35B is configured for short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) operations through the use of a shaft-driven lift fan system. This enables operations from short runways and amphibious assault ships, though internal fuel capacity is reduced compared to the F-35A. The variant is operated by air arms requiring basing flexibility in constrained environments.
F-35C Carrier Variant (CV)
The F-35C is designed for catapult- assisted take-off and arrested recovery operations from aircraft carriers. Structural modifications include a larger wing with folding wingtips, reinforced landing gear, and a strengthened tailhook. The increased wing area contributes to lower approach speeds and supports carrier-based operational requirements.
Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Technical Specifications
Internal Weapons Load:
25mm GAU-22/A cannon
2x AIM-120C/D air-to-air missiles
2x 2,000 lb GBU-31 JDAM guided bombs
Maximum Take-Off Weight: ~70,000 lbs
Maximum Speed: Mach 1.6
Power Plant: Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100
~40,000 lbf maximum thrust (full afterburner)
~25,000 lbf military power
Combat Radius: ~1,093km
Maximum Load Factor: 9.0G
Operators
The F-35 is currently operated by a range of air arms across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region, including the Royal Australian Air Force, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, United States Navy, and several European and Asian air force.
The inclusion of the F-35 Lightning II in both aerial and static displays at the Singapore Airshow provided an opportunity to observe the aircraft from operational and technical perspectives. The presence of multiple operators underscored the programme’s international scope and its continued relevance with contemporary military aviation exhibitions. As one of the most widely fielded 5th generation combat aircraft currently in service, the F-35 remains a regular feature at major defense and aerospace events in the world.
