Lockheed reports successful F-35 integration with Aegis system

WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M., Sept. 13 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin reported Tuesday that the F-35 Lightning II and and the Aegis weapon system worked together for the first time during a live-fire exercise.

The joint exercise Monday between the company, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps was the first live-fire missile test that successfully demonstrated the integration of the F-35 to support Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air, the company said in a statement.

During the test, an unmodified Marine Corps F-35B acted as an elevated sensor and detected an over-the-horizon threat.

The jet sent data through the aircraft's Multi-Function Advanced Data Link to a ground station connected to Aegis on the USS Desert Ship, a land-based ship.

The target was then engaged and intercepted with a Standard Missile 6.

Lockheed said the test reflects how the 5th-generation fighter can be a force multiplier.

When the capability is fully realized, it will increase situational awareness using Aegis and the F-35 together to better understand the maritime operational environment.

"Using any variant of the F-35 as a broad area sensor, the aircraft can significantly increase the Aegis capability to detect, track and engage," Lockheed said.