By contrast, the F-35A Lightning II was built for fifth-generation combat, combining stealth, sensor fusion, and advanced targeting systems. Its low radar signature allows it to operate with far less chance of detection, while its onboard electronics provide pilots with a much broader view of the battlefield. A key advantage comes from the F-35’s AN/APG-81 radar, which can detect and track multiple airborne targets at very long distances. Reports indicate the stealth fighter identified a group of Iranian F-4 aircraft from roughly 140 nautical miles away, long before visual contact or direct engagement became possible.
