Ameer Randolph
The F-35 is a fifth-generation fighter aircraft manufactured by Lockheed Martin. It is used by the US Air Force and 19 allied nations, enhancing global security and deterring threats worldwide. The F-35 is the most lethal, survivable, and connected fighter aircraft in production today, and its versatility and value are unmatched. With an internal fuel capacity of 18,250 lbs, calculations estimate that the F-35 burns approximately 22 gallons of fuel per minute during flight. However, actual training flights that include supersonic flight, afterburner use, and combat maneuvers will likely burn significantly more fuel.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fuel burn | 22 gallons per minute |
| Internal fuel capacity | 18,250 lbs |
| Range | 1,200 nautical miles |
| Best-case mileage | 0.51 miles per gallon |
| Wingspan | 35 feet (F-35A and F-35B) |
| Wingspan | Larger than 35 feet (F-35C) |
| Engine upgrades | Engine Core Upgrade (ECU) |
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What You'll Learn
The F-35 burns 22 gallons of fuel per minute
The F-35 is a combat-proven aircraft with unmatched versatility and value. With more than a million flight hours and 12 nations operating across the global fleet, the F-35 is an indispensable contributor to global security. However, it has been criticized for its environmental impact due to its high fuel consumption.
According to calculations by James Marc Leas, each F-35 burns approximately 22 gallons of fuel per minute. This calculation is based on the F-35's internal fuel capacity and range, assuming a modest speed, straight and level flight, and no afterburner use or combat training maneuvers. At this rate, the F-35 would consume 2,720 gallons of fuel for a 1,380-mile journey, resulting in a best-case mileage of 0.51 miles per gallon.
It is important to note that the actual fuel consumption during training flights, which include supersonic flight, afterburner use, high g-forces, takeoffs and landings, and combat maneuvers, will be significantly higher. The high fuel consumption of the F-35 has led to criticisms that the aircraft promotes the expansion of the fossil fuel industry and contributes to climate change.
The environmental impact of the F-35 has also been a concern for local communities, such as in Vermont, where the extreme noise of the military jets has led to the demolition of affordable homes and disruptions to democracy and the rule of law.
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F-35 fuel capacity is 18,250 lbs
The F-35 is a fifth-generation fighter aircraft with a single-engine design and tremendous internal fuel capacity. The F-35A variant, for example, can carry more than 18,000 pounds of internal fuel, which is over two and a half times the capacity of older multirole fighters. This gives the F-35 a significant advantage in terms of range, doubling that of its predecessors.
The F-35's fuel capacity of 18,250 lbs (or 8,278 kg) is stored internally and provides the aircraft with a maximum range of 1,500 nautical miles (1,700 miles or 2,800 km). This range capability allows the F-35 to undertake missions such as interdiction (air-to-surface) with a combat range of 669 nautical miles (770 miles or 1,239 km) on internal fuel alone.
The F-35's fuel efficiency is further enhanced by its fixed diverterless supersonic inlets (DSI), which improve aerodynamic performance. Additionally, the F-35's Pratt & Whitney F135 engine provides good subsonic acceleration and energy, with the ability to reach supersonic speeds with the use of afterburners.
Despite its impressive fuel capacity and range, the F-35 has been criticised for its fuel efficiency. Each F-35 burns approximately 22 gallons of jet fuel per minute, or 1,340 gallons per hour, leading to significant fuel consumption and carbon emissions over the course of its flights. The high fuel consumption of the F-35 contributes to the US military's position as the single largest user of fossil fuels globally.
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F-35 range is 1,200 nautical miles
The F-35 is a Lockheed Martin combat aircraft designed for both air superiority and strike missions. It is a single-seat, single-engine, supersonic stealth fighter with electronic warfare, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. The F-35 has a wing-tail configuration with two vertical stabilizers canted for stealth. The F-35C variant has a larger wing that is more fuel-efficient, and it carries almost 1,500 lbs more fuel than the F-35A and F-35B variants. The F-35 benefits from propulsion upgrades over its lifecycle to adapt to emerging threats and enable additional capabilities. For example, the Adaptive Engine Transition Program (AETP) was launched in 2016 to develop and test adaptive cycle engines, with one potential application being the re-engining of the F-35.
The F-35's fuel efficiency has been a topic of discussion, with varying estimates. Lockheed Martin's sales documentation from 2005 stated that the F-35 could achieve a combat radius of 760 nautical miles, giving it a range of at least 1,520 nautical miles. This estimate may be higher than the actual maximum range due to extra fuel consumption during maneuvers. However, other sources suggest that the F-35's range may be lower. One calculation, based on the F-35A CV variant with a test weapons load, estimated the outward-and-back distance to be 1,180 nautical miles round trip, resulting in 0.416 nautical miles to the gallon.
It's important to note that the F-35's range can be extended through the use of external fuel tanks and midair refueling options. Additionally, the F-35's fuel efficiency may vary depending on the specific variant and any design changes made over time.
While the F-35 offers advanced capabilities, its fuel consumption has been a concern. Each F-35 burns approximately 22 gallons of jet fuel per minute, resulting in significant fuel usage during training flights. For example, F-35A training flights from South Burlington, Vermont, burn between 4.7 and 9.4 million gallons of jet fuel per year. This fuel consumption contributes to high levels of greenhouse gas emissions, with the F-35 program in Burlington being equivalent to the annual emissions of 9,881 to 19,762 cars.
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F-35 fuel tanks vulnerable to lightning strikes
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a fifth-generation fighter that emphasises low observables, advanced avionics, and sensor fusion, enabling a high level of situational awareness and long-range lethality. However, testing revealed that the F-35 fuel tanks were vulnerable to lightning strikes, among other issues.
The F-35 is restricted from flying within 25 miles of a thunderstorm due to the risk of explosion if struck by lightning. This restriction was implemented in response to the discovery that the fuel tank inerting system could not maintain the required low oxygen levels in the fuel tanks during some critical portions of a mission. The On-Board Inert Gas Generating System (OBIGGS) or Onboard Inert Gas Generation System (according to another source) is being redesigned to address this issue by injecting nitrogen-enriched air into the jet's fuel tanks, making them non-reactive and thus preventing explosions.
Despite the vulnerability to lightning strikes, the F-35 is considered to have "very good vulnerability performance" by a Lockheed Martin spokesperson. They attribute this to the aircraft's stealth capabilities, which make it less vulnerable than any fourth-generation fighter. Additionally, the advanced avionics of the F-35 have been found to continue functioning without issue after a lightning strike.
Upgrades to the F-35A gas tanks are currently underway to improve their resilience to lightning strikes. As of January 25, F-35 units across the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps have reported being struck by lightning 15 times, resulting in repair costs ranging from $25,000 to $570,000 per incident. The upgrades are expected to enable the F-35A to resume unrestricted flight for the first time in almost two years.
While the F-35 fuel tanks' vulnerability to lightning strikes has been a concern, it is important to note that the aircraft has undergone various tests and upgrades to address this issue. The F-35 is a highly advanced fighter jet with stealth capabilities, and its fuel efficiency can be enhanced through specific design configurations, such as the F-35C's larger wing.
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F-35 engine upgrades improve fuel burn by 5%
The F-35 is a fifth-generation fighter aircraft that provides next-generation stealth, enhanced situational awareness, and reduced vulnerability. The F-35 has a Pratt & Whitney F135 engine, which offers good subsonic acceleration and energy, with a supersonic dash in afterburner.
The F-35 is expected to receive propulsion upgrades throughout its lifecycle to adapt to emerging threats and enable additional capabilities. In 2016, the Adaptive Engine Transition Program (AETP) was launched to develop and test adaptive cycle engines, with one potential application being the re-engining of the F-35.
Pratt & Whitney, the manufacturer of the F135 engine, has developed an engine core upgrade that will add more efficiency, electrical power, and other improvements. The Engine Core Upgrade (ECU), originally called Growth Option 1.0 and then the Engine Enhancement Package, improves engine thrust and fuel burn by 5% and bleed air cooling capacity by 50%, supporting Block 4. The F135 ECU was chosen over AETP engines in 2023 to provide additional power and cooling for the F-35.
The F135 ECU requires changing the power module on older engines during depot overhaul, which can be seamlessly inserted into future production engines with minimal cost increase and no impact on the delivery schedule. This upgrade will provide a 5-6% fuel burn reduction and a 6-10% thrust increase across the F-35 flight envelope. The upgrade also includes better cooling technology for turbine blades, increasing the engine's longevity and reducing maintenance costs.
The F-35 is designed to have less maintenance than previous stealth aircraft, with 95% of all field-replaceable parts being "one deep", meaning nothing else needs to be removed to access the desired part. The F-35's increased fuel efficiency and range, combined with its stealth capabilities, enable a more efficient mission flight profile.
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Frequently asked questions
The F35 burns 22 gallons of fuel per minute. This calculation assumes a modest speed, straight and level flight, no afterburner use, and no combat training maneuvers. Actual training flights will use much more fuel.
During training flights, the F35 will use significantly more fuel than the calculated 22 gallons per minute. Training flights include supersonic flight, afterburner use, high g’s, takeoffs and landings, and combat maneuvers, all of which consume a large amount of fuel.
The F35 has an internal fuel capacity of 18,250 lbs, which is equivalent to approximately 2,720 gallons.
