Speaking of weapons, the F-35 can carry a lot on the inside and outside, 18,000 pounds worth of either missiles or bombs. The exact composition of said armaments varies, but it’s reported to carry AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, AIM-120 air-to-air missiles, JDAM bombs, and an internal 25-millimeter cannon in case things get hectic. 18,000 pounds of weapons is the normal capacity of the F-35, but in 2021, it was revealed by the Royal Australian Air Force that the jet is capable of going “beast mode” and carrying 22,000 pounds of nastiness. It’s more than likely that given the general classified nature of the exact combat abilities of the Lightning II, there is more to learn.
Bombs and missiles may be great for knocking out targets in physical space, but the 21st century has propelled the combat space into the electronic realm. And the F-35 is ready. Not only can it provide extremely detailed battle information to forces on the ground, it can seamlessly work with drones to get a literal bird’s eye view of the battlefield. If something is happening within the F-35’s airspace, it will know about it and act accordingly.
The F-35 is also capable of acting on the offensive in electronic warfare as it’s equipped with modules to enact electronic warfare and jam signals. An enemy can’t fight with equipment that’s been turned off.