Built to meet a list of requirements some industry insiders thought impossible at the time, it would go on to become the most technologically advanced and widely-operated stealth fighter on the planet before even entering full-rate production.

After decades of fighters focused on brawn, it would prize brains, bringing sensor fusion and unprecedented situational awareness into the cockpit and beyond — and earning it the unofficial title of “Quarterback in the Sky.”

With a combination of onboard systems and advanced weapons so capable it can even target fighters flying behind it, this flying supercomputer is changing how nations think about air combat.

Meet - The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter