F-35 test fires European-made missile for first time

March 16 (UPI) -- An F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter has conducted its first firing trials of MBDA's Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile.

The flight trials and missile launches, conducted from the U.S. Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland and Edwards Air Force Base in California, were the first by an F-35 of a European-made missile, the company announced this week.

MBDA said they were part of an integration program for its ASRAAM system for British F-35 aircraft.

MBDA, headquartered in Britain, is under contract to produce the infrared-guided air-to-air missile for the F-35s ordered by Britain.

MBDA is also under contract for Britain's ASRAAM Capability Sustainment Program to build replenishment missiles for the Royal Air Force's Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft.

The company's Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile is currently in service with the Royal Air Force on its Tornado and Typhoon fighters.

Additional test details were not disclosed.

MBDA is owned jointly by the Airbus Group, BAE Systems and Leonardo.