Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning

Others like it, some don't, but no one can deny that the F-35 is one of the most contemporary and proficient combat jets available. While its early models had a variety of faults, the United States spent billions of dollars improving this plane, and many testing and training sessions show that it can compete with any other jet. The F-35A is the basic conventional fighter; the F-35B is a version for short take-off and vertical landing; and the F-35C is the carrier variant, designed to replace the US Navy's F/A-18 fighter jet.

This plane stands out because of its outstanding integration of current sensors, stealth, electronic warfare, and networking capabilities. This plane cost approximately 1.5 trillion dollars to manufacture, making it the most expensive weapon platform ever. As a result, it was the most powerful.

The F-35 first flew in 2006 and entered service with the U.S. Marine Corps F-35B in July 2015, followed by the U.S. Air Force F-35A in August 2016 and the U.S. Navy F-35C in February 2019. The aircraft was first used in combat in 2018 by the Israeli Air Force. The U.S. plans to buy 2,456 F-35s through 2044, which will represent the bulk of the crewed tactical aviation of the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps for several decades; the aircraft will be a cornerstone of NATO and U.S.-allied air power and is expected to operate until 2070. This is one of the best fighter jets in the world.

Role: Multirole fighter
National origin: United States
Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin
First flight: December 2006, 15 years ago (F-35A).
Introduction: F-35B: July 31st, 2015 (USMC); 2 August 2016 (USAF); 28 February 2019 (USN)
Status: In production
Produced: 2006–present
Number built: 820+ as of July 2022
Developed by Lockheed Martin, the X-35