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.
Facing competition from fast-growing startups, Lockheed Martin is speeding up production of an “affordable, scalable” hypersonic glide body, dubbed the Next Generation Glide Body, the firm said in a June 24 release.