Mon, Nov 22, 2010
Basis For All Future JSF Avionics Moves From Avionics Test Bed
To Test Airplane
The fundamental building block for all future avionics software
on the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter has entered flight testing
on an F-35 test jet. "Block 1," the first of three principal
software-development blocks for the F-35's mission systems, made
its inaugural flight on Nov. 5 in the F-35B short takeoff/vertical
landing (STOVL) aircraft known as BF-4. The functional check flight
from Naval Air Station Patuxent River lasted 1.5 hours, and all
planned test points were accomplished.
F35 BF4 Photo Courtesy Lockheed
"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 Martin F-35 program
general manager. "The flight went as planned, and we look forward
to expanded mission systems testing in the coming months."
The Block 1 software will enable most of the primary sensors on
the F-35, which possesses the most powerful and comprehensive
mission systems package of any fighter ever to fly. Block 1 forms
the foundation of all subsequent software blocks. It enables
information fusion from the F-35's radar, electronic warfare
system, distributed aperture system, electro-optical targeting
system and other sensors, and provides initial weapons-release
capability.
Block 1 has been undergoing airborne testing since May on the
Cooperative Avionics Test Bed, a highly modified 737 airliner that
incorporates the entire integrated F-35 mission systems suite,
including an F-35 cockpit. The test bed provides initial in-flight
validation for F-35 software blocks before they are introduced into
actual F-35 aircraft.
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