Initial flight tests of the Northrop Grumman electro-optical distributed aperture system sensors for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter have proved three sensors will “function simultaneously to provide a seamless, combined wide field of view,” says Northrop officials. The company flew the sensors aboard its BAC 1-11 avionics testbed aircraft. The full F-35 suite comprises six EO-DAS sensors—designated AN/AAQ-37. Northrop plans to deliver the first complete suite to aircraft developer Lockheed Martin in April. The imagery from the three test sensors was “outstanding,” says Northrop’s Joe Ensor.
Depot-level maintenance took longer than expected for nearly three-quarters of Air Force aircraft from fiscal 2019-2024, according to a new report, as unplanned repairs rise across the aging fleet. The report, from the Government Accountability Office, also found that the extent of the delays has been masked because officials often revise their target timelines after unplanned work occurs.