The F-35A strike fighter recently completed a series of high-angle-of-attack tests at Edwards AFB, Calif., announced manufacturer Lockheed Martin on Thursday. “The testing accomplished high AOA beyond both the positive and negative maximum command limits, including intentionally putting the aircraft out of control in several configurations,” states the company’s May 16 release. The aircraft initially flew in its stealth clean-wing configuration, followed bytesting with external air-to-air pylons and missiles, and then with open weapon bay doors. “For all testing, recovery from out of control flight has been 100 percent successful without the use of the spin recovery chute, which is carried to maximize safety,” states the release. The F-35A last fall began edge-of-the-envelope high AOA testing.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine said the U.S. needs to prepared for future conflicts in which its adversaries will be able to closely track the location of American forces and attack with autonomous systems that use artificial intelligence.
