Article Posted on : - Apr 08, 2010

The first avionics-equipped Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II lifts off on its first flight at Texas. Photo: Lockheed Martin.

TEXAS (BNS): Lockheed Martin has started the flight test of its first mission systems equipped F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters.

The test performed a series of flight-qualities maneuvers and checked the operation of the aircraft’s mission systems.

"Today’s flight initiates a level of avionics capability that no fighter has ever achieved," Eric Branyan, Lockheed Martin F-35 deputy program manager said in a news release.

"The F-35’s next-generation sensor suite enables a new capability for multi role aircraft, collecting vast amounts of data and fusing the information into a single, highly comprehensible display that will enable the pilot to make faster and more effective tactical decisions," he added.

The F-35’s mission systems, process and apply data from a wide array of off-board sensors based on the land, in the air or at sea, enabling the aircraft to perform command-and-control functions while providing unprecedented situational awareness to air and surface forces.

The F-35 Lightning II is a 5th generation fighter combining advanced stealth with fighter speed, sensor information, network-enabled operations and advanced sustainability.