Article Posted on : - Apr 02, 2012

The F-35 during the night refuelling exercise. A Lockheed photo

FORT WORTH (BNS): US defence firm Lockheed Martin has for the first time successfully conducted night refuelling exercise on an F-35 stealth fighter jet.

The refuelling mission was carried out at the Edwards Air Force Base, California on March 22.

During the exercise, an F-35A conventional takeoff and landing variant rendezvoused with an US Air Force KC-135 tanker and successfully received fuel through the fighter jet's boom receptacle, Lockheed said.

The entire mission lasted for over three hours.

In addition to qualifying with the KC-135, the F-35 Integrated Test Force at Edwards AFB will also conduct night refuelling tests with the KC-10, Lockheed, which is producing the fifth-generation multi-role combat jets, said.