Data Quality88%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the air superiority fighters category.
01 / Overview
Lockheed P-38 Lightning
Category
Country
Production
1943–1945
Quantity
10,037
Operators
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
AIR SUPERIORITY FIGHTERS · WORLD WAR II
13
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
75
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the air superiority fighters category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General6MOD.6
- First Flight1939
- Service Entry Year1941
- Crew1
- Primary Rolefighter, fighter‑bomber, reconnaissance
- Generationfirst generation piston‑engine fighter
- In ServiceNo
◈Powerplant9MOD.9
- Engine TypeAllison V-1710 (-111 left hand rotation and -113 right hand rotation)
- Engine ModelAllison V-1710
- Number of Engines2
- Thrust (dry, each)1,470
- Thrust-to-Weight0.33
- AfterburnerNo
- SupercruiseNo
- Thrust VectoringNo
- Internal Fuel1,150 kg
▣Performance10MOD.10
- Top Speed666.209 km/h
- Top Speed (Mach)0.97 Mach
- Cruise Speed442.53 km/h
- Stall Speed180 km/h
- Service Ceiling13,411.2 m
- Ferry Range4,200 km
- Combat Radius800 km
- Rate of Climb24.13 m/s
- G-Limit7
- Takeoff Run800 m
◇Dimensions & Weights7MOD.7
- Length11.278 m
- Wingspan14.95 m
- Height0.254 m
- Wing Area31
- Empty Weight5,806.08 kg
- Loaded Weight7,938 kg
- Max Takeoff Weight9,797.76 kg
◆Armament8MOD.8
- Hardpoints4
- Weapons Payload2,000 kg
- Internal Gun; ** 1× Hispano M2(C) 20 mm cannon with 150 rounds ** 4× M2 Browning machine gun 0.50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns with 500
- Internal Weapons BayYes
- Air-to-Air MissilesYes
- Air-to-Ground MissilesYes
- Anti-Ship MissilesYes
- Nuclear CapableNo
▤Avionics & Stealth8MOD.8
- Radarnone (standard variants)
- AESA RadarNo
- Stealth / Low ObservableNo
- IRSTNo
- Electronic Warfare SuiteNo
- Helmet-Mounted SightNo
- Tactical DatalinkNo
- Targeting PodNo
⬢Production3MOD.3
- Total Built10,037
- Operators12
- Variants30
▲Service History4MOD.4
- Retirement Year1965
- Production Start1941
- Production End1945
- Operational Statusretired
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 1939First deployment: World War II
- 1943Production started
- 1945Production ended
83
years in service
2
years in production
10,037
units produced
8
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it. 4 countries retired it.
04 / Operators
Operator Inventory4country · 118units
118active
05 / MASS Score
AIR SUPERIORITY FIGHTERS RANKING Air Superiority Fighters · World War II
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
79AIR SUPERIORITY FIGHTERS13WORLD WAR II · AIR SUPERIORITY FIGHTERS1268UNITED STATES · ALL WEAPONS299PERFORMANCE/PRICE · AIR SUPERIORITY FIGHTERS
ⓘ Rankings are within theAir Superiority Fighterscategory.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE4terms
Air-to-air missiles are guided missiles fired from aircraft to engage other aircraft. They are used for self-defense and to gain air superiority.
Air-to-Ground Missiles are guided missiles fired from aircraft to attack ground targets. They enable aircraft to engage and destroy enemy ground positions, vehicles, and installations.
Anti-ship missiles are guided missiles designed to engage and destroy naval vessels. They are typically used by aircraft, ships, or submarines to attack enemy ships.
An internal compartment within a military aircraft designed to store and deploy weapons, reducing radar cross-section and aerodynamic drag.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources