Alerts Sign-up
When comparing military jet fighters to commercial jetliners, there are significant differences in design priorities. Commercial aviation has focused on fuel efficiency due to climate regulations and fuel costs, while military jets prioritize stealth, speed, and maneuverability, often resulting in shorter flight ranges and higher fuel consumption.
The F-35 Lightning II, a Lockheed Martin combat aircraft designed for air superiority and strike missions, exemplifies these military priorities. The F-35A variant's fuel efficiency was estimated at 0.416 nautical miles per gallon of jet fuel based on a specific loadout and operational range. However, factors such as loadout differences between variants can affect this figure.
Lockheed Martin's documentation suggests the F-35 has a combat radius of 760 nautical miles, translating to a potential range of at least 1,520 nautical miles. This would increase its fuel efficiency to 0.536 nautical miles per gallon when using Lockheed's data.
