McDonnell Douglas · Short-takeoff and maneuver technology demonstrator
HISTORICAL FIELD NOTE
The STOL/MTD transformed an F-15B with canards, digital controls, and two-dimensional thrust-vectoring and reversing nozzles. It demonstrated steep approaches, shorter landings, and post-stall control concepts that fed later NASA research into highly integrated propulsion and flight-control systems.
INTERACTIVE MODEL LOADS WHEN NEARBY
2016 / ModernAirframe B
F-35A Lightning II
Lockheed Martin · Conventional multirole fighter
HISTORICAL FIELD NOTE
The conventional-runway F-35A combines low-observable shaping, sensor fusion, and internal weapons carriage with the lightest airframe and largest internal fuel load of the three F-35 variants. It entered U.S. Air Force operational service in 2016 and is designed for both air-to-air and precision-strike missions.
PERFORMANCE
SPECIFICATION BREAKDOWN
METRICF-15 STOL/MTDF-35A Lightning II
Top speed
Mach 2 classAPPROXIMATE / PUBLISHED
Mach 1.6REFERENCE VALUE
Ceiling
Research envelopeDESCRIPTIVE VALUE
50,000 ftREFERENCE VALUE
Range
Research sortiesDESCRIPTIVE VALUE
1,200+ nmiAPPROXIMATE / PUBLISHED
Archive milestone
Service entry · 1988REFERENCE VALUE
Service entry · 2016REFERENCE VALUE
Nation
United StatesDESCRIPTIVE VALUE
United StatesDESCRIPTIVE VALUE
Primary role
Short-takeoff and maneuver technology demonstratorDESCRIPTIVE VALUE
Conventional multirole fighterDESCRIPTIVE VALUE
Values are concise archive references and can vary by variant, payload, configuration, altitude, operating conditions, and source. Range may describe different published measures where a directly comparable figure is unavailable.
