The technology behind America’s most advanced fighter jet, the F-35, comes not just from the U.S., but also from partners across the globe.
Heralded for its state-of-the-art stealth and connected radar technology, the F-35 is nearly invisible to air defense systems. Even as it cruises at supersonic speeds, its networking technology allows pilots to share real-time information with other pilots and with commanders on the ground.
The F-35 reflects design, manufacturing and engineering collaborations across four continents. Once assembled, the jet includes:
- Landing gear and targeting systems from Canada
- Engine parts and turbine blades from Italy
- A cockpit display from Turkey
- Aircraft wiring from the Netherlands
- Life support systems from the United Kingdom
- Machine parts and gun pods from Denmark
- Engine shafts for the propulsion system from Norway
- Advanced engineering and the vertical tail from Australia
- Computerized helmet from Israel
The F-35 is “a force multiplier,” General Tod Wolters, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, said at the recent F-35 leadership forum in Germany. “It’s a game changer for missile defense. It does things we’ve never seen before.”