F-35D

For as long as the United States has had technological supremacy it has had a dilemma; who should it share its best technology with? This dilemma has been addressed in a number of ways by presidents both Democrat and Republican. Carter, with his arms trade regulations forbidding the sale of weapons currently in service with the US military, Gerald Ford, with ITAR, and Johnson with Foreign Military Sales, which attempted to, if not ban, regulate the export of US military technology. Now, recognizing that our allies are in dire need of advanced warfighting technology and that such technology is rapidly proliferating around the world the United States has begun a program to create affordable, effective, and exportable derivatives of its most advanced weapons systems. The first derivative developed under the so-called Advanced, Affordable Export (AAE) program is based upon perhaps the most well-known weapons system ever procured in US history; The F-35.


Developed from its "A" variant the derivative developed for the AAE program incorporates several cost reduction features, which aim to deliver as much bang as possible, for an as little buck. Perhaps most visually noticeable, upon inspection, are the redesigned intakes which feed an F110 engine, of the same type used on the F-16V. Upfront, the F-35D holds a powerful AESA radar, as well as an IRST sensor and 20mm cannon. Behind them its intakes, while still stealthy via an s-curve, have a less complex shape which reduces the cost to manufacture and maintain. Inside the cockpit, the F-35D looks and feels much the same, however, there are several subtle differences, notably in the helmet, displays, and seat, all aimed at reducing cost. The helmet developed for the F-35D is a simplified version of that used upon the F-35, the 360° degree vision system has been replaced with a 270° version and as a result, its cost has been reduced from $400,000 to a more manageable $200,000. Several data fusion capabilities have also been downgraded, as they are designed for use in large combined forces with AEWC, tanker, and ELINT aircraft, which F-35D operators are unlikely to operate. The F-35D, as a result of these modifications, will be less stealthy then the F-35A, however, it will still outclass the SU-57, TF-1, J-20, and KAI KF-X.

F-35D | Specifications
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Length | 15.7M
Wingspan | 11M
Height | 4.4M
Crew | 1
RCS | Approx 25% Bigger then the F-35A (0.0003m^2?)
Powerplant | F110-GE-133 130kn, non afterburning, 190kn, afterburning
Max Takeoff weight | 30,800kgs
Max speed | Mach 1.5
Ferry Range | 2900kms
Combat Radius | 1200kms
Armament | 1x 20mm Vulcan, 4 internal hardpoints, 6 external for a payload capacity of 8200kgs
Sensors | AESA radar, Downgraded F-35A avionics, IRST sensor.
Cost | $65 Million