Let's breakdown the differences between the various variants of the jet. Warrior Maven Video Above: F-35 Adds Stormbreaker Bomb - Weapons analysis The F-35 Stealth Fighter is a beast of a plane. Let's breakdown the differences between the various variants of the jet. byCharlie Gao [https://nationalinterest.org/profile/charlie-gao] Often times, the F-35 has been colloquially referred to as one aircraft in the media, or various versions of the F-35 have been conflated with each other. However, despite their shared “program,” the standard F-35A and the VSTOL F-35B are very different and even feature different fuselages in addition to the additional complexity introduced in the B variant. The primary difference between the two jets is that the B is less nimble in general. There are a multitude of reasons for this, many of which stem from the necessity for the B to have VSTOL capability. The B variant is considerably “fatter” and bulkier than the F-35A as a result of the integration of the lift fan.This image [https://i.imgur.com/CrW73iN.png] overlays the fuselage shape of the F-35A over the F-35B, with the B being in orange. As a result of the increased frontal profile, the B has more drag. This makes it slower to accelerate and harder to turn. Practically, the F-35B takes approximately eighteen more seconds [http://elementsofpower.blogspot.com.au/2015/02/the-f-35-and-infamous-transonic_22.html] to accelerate from Mach 0.8 to Mach 1.2 compared to the F-35A. The increased profile and different weight also affects the potential turn rate, but practically, the F-35B is limited to pulling 7Gs maximum [http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q6uT3fI7CZU/U2wawkfAsAI/AAAAAAAAE64/1qwyT-oGgIg/s1600/F-35+Master+Plan.jpg] to avoid damage to internal components. The B also has less internal fuel, but this is to be expected as it has additional parts that take up space in the fuselage that the A doesn’t. This limits its effective combat range versus the A, but it still is far superior to the other VSTOL aircraft that preceded it. Weapons wise, there are a few small but important differences between the F-35A and F-35B. The most obvious one is the omission of the gun at the wing root on the F-35B due to the different fuselage shape. Instead, the F-35B can mount a gun pod centerline [https://i.imgur.com/rCXZ7SK.png] under the fuselage with a stealthy fairing. This pod can carry an additional forty rounds versus the F-35A’s internal gun, and could potentially be more accurate as it’s directly center relative to the HUD and cockpit. The weapons that the F-35B can carry internally are also different than the F-35A. Again, due to different requirements and fuselage shape, the internal weapon bays of the F-35B carry less weight [https://i2.wp.com/theaviationist.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Weapons-Stations-Capacity_v1.jpg] than the F-35A. The biggest implication is that the F-35B cannot carry the massive two-thousand-pound bombs stealthily, in order to employ them they must be hung from the external weapon pylons. Most of the United States’ “bunker buster” bombs weigh that much, so the F-35B would not be able to perform a stealthy mission against a deep hardened target, whereas the F-35A would. The two and ten pylons on the wings also can carry less weight, so the F-35B has less overall munitions capability than the F-35A in that regard as well. However, it’s unlikely that the F-35B would want to operate at its max load in the first place given that it cannot vertically land with the maximum weight. If the F-35B took off with the maximum takeoff weight, it either would have to expend its stores in combat or jettison them before landing. Recommended:What Will the Sixth-Generation Jet Fighter Look Like? [https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/beyond-f-22-or-f-35-what-will-sixth-generation-jet-fighter-look-26451] Recommended:Imagine a U.S. Air Force That Never Built the B-52 Bomber [https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/imagine-us-air-force-never-built-b-52-bomber-26471] Recommended:Russia's Next Big Military Sale - To Mexico? [https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/russias-next-big-military-sale-mexico-26371] Recommended:Would China Really Invade Taiwan? [https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/would-china-really-invade-taiwan-26196] All of these limitations may make it seem like the F-35B once in flight is by and large just a worse version of the F-35A. While this is true, it’s important to consider the roles of the aircraft. The F-35B is far closer in capability to the F-35A than the AV-8B was to the F-16C. The AV-8B couldn’t even go supersonic, it had significantly fewer hardpoints, and its radar, while decent was worse than the F-16C. The F-35B, by comparison, is pretty much the same aircraft as the A, with just some limitations on maneuverability and weapons. It features the same top-notch sensor systems, radar, and datalink capabilities that the A brings to the table. -- This Story First Appeared in The National Interest [https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/f-35a-vs-f-35b-what-exactly-difference-30252] -- Charlie Gao studied Political and Computer Science at Grinnell College and is a frequent commentator on defense and national security issues. More Weapons and Technology - [WARRIOR MAVEN (CLICK HERE](https://www.themaven.net/warriormaven "<strong style=\\\\"box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;\\\\"><em style=\\\\"box-sizing: border-box;\\\\">WARRIOR MAVEN (CLICK HERE</em></strong>"))--
