Joint strike fighter stalled by technical problems

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/may/09/joint-strike-fighter-technical-problems

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The B and C versions of the JSF are very different aircraft. The F-35B has a shorter range and does not have the weapons payload of the sister aircraft. This is because the engines on the Stovl need more room to allow it to take off vertically.

<strong>F-35B, known as Stovl</strong> (short takeoff, vertical landing)

Length: 51.2ft/15.6m

Wingspan: 35ft/10.7m

Weight empty: 32,300lb

Internal fuel capacity: 13,500lb/6,125kg

Weapons payload: 15,000lb/6,800kg

Standard internal weapons load: Two AIM-120C air-to-air missiles; Two 1,000-pound GBU-32 JDAM guided bombs

Speed (full internal weapons load): Mach 1.6 (1,200mph)

Combat radius: 450 nautical miles

<strong>The F-35C, the Carrier Variant</strong>

Length: 51.5ft /15.7m

Wingspan: 43 ft/13.1m

Weight empty: 34,800lb

Internal fuel capacity: 19,750lb/8,960kg

Weapons payload 18,000lb/8,160kg

Standard internal weapons load: Two AIM-120C air-to-air missiles. Two 2,000-pound GBU-31 JDAM guided bombs

Speed (full internal weapons load): Mach 1.6 (1,200mph)

Combat radius: 600 nautical miles

Source: Lockheed Martin