The article's estimates put F-35A and F-35C flight time above an hour on a full tank, with combat durations of about 33 and 35 minutes. It gives the F-35B a 450-nautical-mile combat radius, about 25 minutes; all figures assume ideal conditions.
The article gives the F-35A a total range of about 1,200 nautical miles and a combat radius of roughly 590 nautical miles; for the F-35C, it lists up to 1,200 nautical miles total and a radius approaching 600. It defines combat radius as the distance an aircraft can travel out and back while retaining enough fuel to engage a target and return safely.
For missions beyond local reach, the article says F-35s need tanker support to retain fuel for combat, loitering or diversion. External tanks under the U.S. F-35 Block 4 program are in development and are expected to add about 8,000 pounds of fuel and extend the F-35A's combat radius to over 1,100 miles. The article also says Israeli F-35I jets used drop and conformal tanks on reported deep-strike missions into Iran without tanker support, then jettisoned them before hostile airspace to preserve stealth.
