Availability and Use of F-35 Fighter Aircraft: An Update

Intended to replace older models of fighter aircraft, the F-35 has stealth capabilities that reduce the chance of detection by radar and heat-seeking missiles.

The Department of Defense (DoD) has three variants of the aircraft: the F-35A, operated by the Air Force; the F-35B, operated by the Marine Corps; and the F-35C, operated primarily by the Navy. In April 2022, the Congressional Budget Office published Availability and Use of F-35 Fighter Aircraft.