Revealed : The F-35 Is A Powerful Stealth Fighter, But It Can't Hope to Beat A F-22 Head-Onbr br Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter which is built in three versions recently completed its developmental test phase and is operational with the U S Air Force and Marine Corps. Meanwhile, the U S Navy will soon join the ranks of JSF operators with the F-35C carrier variant, which is scheduled to become operational later this year or early 2019.