How do you make a 51-foot-long, 35-foot-wide fighter jet undetectable? There's no black magic that exists to make the F-35A Lightning II invisible but it does have masking features which make it challenging to detect, track or target by radar with missiles or by an enemy aircraft. The cloaks of these aircraft are called low-observable technology and are managed by highly-trained Airmen.
"You can't just read the steps in the manual," said Master Sgt. John Knowles, 388th Maintenance Squadron section chief. "There are requirements for who can do it and inspect it … We take doing it correctly very seriously."
With stealth designed in from Day One, the F-35 has an unmatched ability to evade enemy detection and enter contested airspace. The F-35's aligned edges, reduced engine signature, internal carriage of weapons and fuel and embedded sensors all contribute to its unique stealth performance.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. said, "The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is the cornerstone of our future fighter force and air superiority. Achieving air superiority in a future fight is strongly dependent on full-spectrum dominance. The F-35 and its fifth-generation capabilities are part of our fighter force design that outpaces key competitors."
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