USAF Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Flying Display at the Farnborough Airshow 2026

The USAF F-35A Lightning Demo team impresses the crowds at the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow with the aircraft's speed and maneuverability.

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is an American single-seat, single-engine, supersonic stealth multirole combat aircraft that originated from the U.S. Department of Defense's Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program.1 Classified as a fifth-generation fighter, it is designed for both air superiority and strike missions, while also possessing advanced electronic warfare and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.2 The F-35 family consists of three main variants: the F-35A, a Conventional Takeoff and Landing (CTOL) variant with an internal 25mm GAU-22/A cannon; the F-35B, a Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant that utilizes a patented shaft-driven LiftFan propulsion system; and the F-35C, a Carrier Variant (CV) with a larger wing, reinforced landing gear, and an arresting hook for naval operations.3 All variants are powered by the Pratt & Whitney F135 turbofan engine, the F-35A producing 40,000 lb of maximum thrust, enabling a maximum speed of approximately Mach 1.6.