¿Qué tan Avanzado y Letal es el F-35 Lightning II?

Video from the channel La Armería about Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, linked on its Above Ten Thousand entry. Duration: 15:00. Language: Spanish. Video type: Documentary.

Spanish-language explainer piece on how the F-35 Lightning II works: its three versions, the F-35B's short take-off and vertical landing system, the helmet with augmented reality, the cockpit with a digital display, stealth and armament.

The video presents the F-35 as the multirole fighter meant to replace aircraft such as the Harrier II, the Tornado, the F-15E, the F-16 and the F-18 Hornet, after a development plagued by delays and cost overruns. It compares the F-35B with the Harrier, whose four nozzles close to the centre of gravity made it unstable on landing; the F-35B distributes thrust between a lift fan, two nozzles under the wings and a swivelling nozzle at the tail.

The F-35A, for conventional runways, is the cheapest version ($89.2 million according to the video); the Marine Corps' F-35B is the most expensive ($115.5 million); and the Navy's F-35C ($107.7 million) adds reinforced landing gear, an arrestor hook and larger, folding wings. Six external cameras feed their image to the helmet's visor so the pilot can see through the aircraft. On stealth missions the armament is carried in internal bays; the cannon is a 25 mm GAU-22/A. Top speed is around 1,975 km/h and the operational ceiling is 15,000 m.