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Two US Air Force F-35s integrated with the US Army Integrated Air and Missile Defence Battle Command System (IBCS), have provided an airborne sensor capability to successfully detect, track and intercept near simultaneous air-breathing threats in a test at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.
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The December 2019 test marked the first time F-35s were used as sensors during an IBCS live fire test against multiple airborne targets.
Linking F-35s to IBCS via the Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL) provided enhanced situational awareness and weapons-quality track data to engage airborne targets.
The proof of concept demonstration used experimental equipment developed by Lockheed Martin, including the Harvest Lightning Ground Station and IBCS adaptation kit.
Greg Ulmer, Lockheed Martin vice president and general manager of the F-35 program, said, "The F-35’s advanced sensors and connectivity enable it to gather, analyse and seamlessly share critical information with the joint fighting force to lead the multi-domain battlespace."
This test is the latest in a series of successful activities to demonstrate the F-35’s role as the keystone of the joint force. Lockheed Martin is evolving technologies that connect, share and learn to create a holistic network that provides unprecedented situational awareness across the battlespace and enables multi-domain operations.
"This test validated the F-35’s capability to serve as an airborne sensor and extend the range of critical integrated air and missile defence interceptors," Ulmer added.
Jay Pitman, vice president, lower tier integrated air and missile defence at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, expanded on the comments made by Ulmer, stating, "This test represents a major milestone for multi-domain operations by leveraging airborne assets to detect and track threats that can then be countered with ground-based effectors.
"This demonstrates a tremendous capability to defeat threats that are terrain masked or beyond ground-based sensor detection capabilities due to terrain and curvature of the Earth."
Multi-domain operation is a new warfighting concept which synchornises major systems and crucial data sources with revolutionary simplicity, multi-domain operations provides a complete picture of the battlespace and empowers warfighters to quickly make decisions that drive action.
By leveraging data as a weapon, warfighters are empowered to make decisions that drive action – paralysing, disrupting and overwhelming adversaries in a matter of seconds versus minutes, where seconds really matter.
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
