The F-35 strike fighter’s Block 1 avionics software has flown for the first time on an F-35 test aircraft, according to Lockheed Martin. BF-4, an F-35B test aircraft, earlier this month made a functional check flight from NAS Patuxent River, Md., with the software build, which is one of three principal software development blocks for the F-35’s mission systems. “Getting this software up and flying in an F-35 is a big step in the process of validating our avionics system and ensuring that it operates in a way that gives our warfighters a clear advantage over any adversary,” said Larry Lawson, Lockheed’s F-35 program general manager. The Block 1 software enables information fusion from the F-35’s radar, electronic warfare system, distributed aperture system, electro-optical targeting system, and other sensors. It also provides initial weapons-release capability. (Lockheed Martin release)
The use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border this week—which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to abruptly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas—will be a “case study” on the complex web of authorities needed to employ such weapons near civilian areas and the consequences of agencies…
