Thursday, January 26, 2023
  • About us
    • Write for us
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms of use
    • Privacy Policy
  • RSS Feeds
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us
DefenceTalk
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports
No Result
View All Result
DefenceTalk
No Result
View All Result

F-35 Lightning II Aircraft Demonstrates Air-To-Air Combat Capability

by Air Force News Agency
June 6, 2014
in Air Force News
2 min read
0
Budget watchdog says Canada lowballed F-35 JSF costs
14
VIEWS

In the Point Mugu Sea Test Range airspace off the Central California coast, an F-35B demonstrated the jet’s air-to-air combat capability when it sequentially engaged two aerial targets with two AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles during a Weapon Delivery Accuracy mission.

Test pilot and 461st Flight Test Squadron commander, Lt. Col. Andrew Allen, tracked two maneuvering drone targets, making the very first dual AMRAAM shot from any F-35 variant, and the first live AMRAAM shot from the F-35B Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant.

“The U.S. Marine Corps, which operates F-35Bs, will be the first military service branch to attain combat-ready Initial Operational Capability in 2015,” said J.D. McFarlan, Lockheed Martin’s vice president for F-35 Test & Verification. “This Weapon Delivery Accuracy test highlighted the air combat capability that will give Marine aviators a decisive combat edge in contested airspace.”

The F-35’s internally-carried AIM-120 AMRAAMs are a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile capable of all-weather day-and-night operations and considered a “fire-and-forget” missile using active target radar guidance.

Also flying out of Edwards AFB, an F-35A flew a 1.9 hour mission with the first-ever load of Block 3i hardware and software. Block 3i is the next level of capability and is planned to support U.S. Air Force F-35A Initial Operating Capability in 2016.

The two flight tests out of Edwards May 27 were part of three F-35 major milestones on the same day.

On the East Coast, the F-35C, designed for aircraft carrier operations, completed a landing at its maximum sink speed to test the aircraft’s landing gear, airframe and arrestment system at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. “Five sorties were conducted, building up the maximum sink rate test condition of 21.4 feet per second, which represents the maximum sink speed planned for this test,” McFarlan said. During the tests, the F-35C did three arrestments, several touch and goes and one bolter. The landings were to demonstrate structural readiness for arrested landings on an aircraft carrier at sea.

Fleet-wide, the F-35 has, to date, amassed more than 17,000 flight hours.

Tags: AIM-120Air to Air MissilesAMRAAMF-35Fighter AircraftSTOVL
Previous Post

Trident II D5 Missile Reaches 150 Successful Test Flights

Next Post

China under-reported defense by 20 percent: Pentagon

Related Posts

Russia’s Su-57 Fifth-Generation Fighter Makes First Flight with New Engine

Russia, Belarus launch joint air force drills

January 17, 2023

Belarus said Monday that joint air force drills with Russia began on its territory, amid concerns Minsk was being dragged...

Russia waits India’s order to supply MiG-29K fighters for Vikrant aircraft carrier

Japan, India start first joint fighter jet drill

January 17, 2023

Japan and India began their first joint fighter jet exercise on Monday near Tokyo as the countries upgrade defence and...

Next Post
All-women army unit lures ‘red’ tourists in China

China under-reported defense by 20 percent: Pentagon

Latest Defense News

British tanks join NATO battle group in Estonia

Western tanks: political and military boost for Ukraine

January 25, 2023
Finland gears up for historic NATO decision

Finnish FM hopes for NATO ratification by July

January 25, 2023
German Weapons Exports Decline Significantly

Germany says allies can start training Ukrainians on tanks

January 25, 2023
Hackers could shut down satellites – or turn them into weapons

Airbus to provide satellite communications for Belgian Armed Forces

January 25, 2023
‘Doomsday Clock’ moves closest ever to midnight

‘Doomsday Clock’ moves closest ever to midnight

January 25, 2023
Erdogan threatens to block NATO’s Baltic defence plan

Turkey postpones NATO talks with Sweden, Finland

January 25, 2023

Defense Forum Discussions

  • Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates 2.0
  • China - Geostrategic & Geopolitical.
  • Royal Australian Air Force [RAAF] News, Discussions and Updates
  • Military Aviation News and Discussion
  • The Russian-Ukrainian War Thread
  • Australian Army Discussions and Updates
  • NZDF General discussion thread
  • Polish Land Forces Updates & Discussion
  • Russia and the West
  • M1 Abrams gas turbine engine question.
DefenceTalk

© 2003-2020 DefenceTalk.com

Navigate Site

  • Defence Forum
  • Military Photos
  • RSS Feeds
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports

© 2003-2020 DefenceTalk.com