Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II operators

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  Operates F-35A, F-35B and F-35C variants (United States)
  Operates F-35A and F-35B variants (Italy, Japan)
  Operates F-35A variant only (Australia, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, South Korea)
  Operates F-35B variant only (United Kingdom)
  Operates F-35I variant only (Israel)
  Awaiting delivery (F-35A: Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Poland, Switzerland; F-35B: Singapore)

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a family of stealth multirole fighters that first entered service with the United States in 2015. The aircraft has been ordered by program partner nations, including the United Kingdom, Italy, Norway, and Australia, and also through the Department of Defense's Foreign Military Sales program, including Japan, South Korea, and Israel. The units that operate or plan on operating the aircraft are listed below.

Operators

One of the RAAF's first two F-35As in December 2014
The F-35I Adir (accompanied by a 253 Squadron F-16I Sufa) on its debut flight in Israel, December 2016

F-35A

 Australia
 Belgium
 Canada
  • Royal Canadian Air Force – 88 ordered in January 2023. First aircraft to arrive in 2026, first squadron operational in 2029 and full fleet operational by 2032 to 2034.[9][10][11]
 Czech Republic
  • Czech Air Force – The U.S. State Department approved a possible sale to the Czech Republic of F-35 aircraft, munitions and related equipment worth up to $5.62 billion, according to a 29 June 2023 announcement.[12] On 29 January 2024, the Czech government signed a memorandum of understanding with the United States for the purchase of F-35A fighters.[13]
 Denmark
 Finland
 Germany
 Italy
 Japan
Dutch F-35A in July 2013
 Netherlands
 Norway
F-35 in 41st Training Air Base in Dęblin, Poland during the 2020 acquisition deal signing ceremony
 Poland

 Singapore

 South Korea
 Switzerland
 United States

F-35I

 Israel

F-35B

The first Italian F-35B
First four RAF F-35Bs on a delivery flight to RAF Marham, June 2018
 Italy
 Japan
 Singapore
 South Korea
 United Kingdom

32 received,[79] with 28 in the UK (one F-35B lost)[80] and the rest in the US, where they are used for testing and training.[81] 42 (24 FOC fighters and 18 training aircraft) to be fast-tracked by 2023.[82][83] 138 originally planned, amended to between 60 and 80 F-35Bs.[84]

 United States
A USMC F-35B aboard USS Wasp

F-35C

USN F-35C launches from USS Abraham Lincoln
 United States

Potential operators

 Greece
  • Hellenic Air Force – Greece is planning to buy 20 F-35 fighter jets with an option to buy 28 more, as part of its multi-billion euro defense modernization program.[106] In January 2024, a proposed foreign military sale for 40 F-35s was sent to U.S. Congress for approval.[107]
 Romania
 Morocco

Cancelled operators

 Republic of China
  • Republic of China Air Force – In 2011, it was reported that Taiwan would procure a 5th Generation fighter such as the F-35.[111] A renewed push for purchasing the F-35 happened in early 2017,[112] and again in March 2018.[113] However, by November 2018 it was reported that the Taiwanese military leadership abandoned the F-35 program in favor of the F-16V Viper. Reportedly, the decision was motivated by concerns about industry independence, and Chinese espionage concerns.[114]
 Thailand
 Turkey
  • Turkish Air Force – 4 F-35A delivered and withheld[119][120] at Luke Air Force Base. 30 F-35s were ordered,[121] of up to 100 total planned.[122][123] Future purchases have been banned by the U.S. with contracts canceled by early 2020.[120] On 1 February 2024 the U.S. expressed a willingness to readmit Turkey into the F-35 program in the event of a satisfactory resolution of the S-400 issue.[124]
 United Arab Emirates

Ship-based platforms

Ship-based platform activation includes:[129]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Navy squadron that trained both Navy and Marine F-35C pilots, and operated Navy and Marine F-35Cs maintained by both sailors and Marines.

References

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