Lockheed Martin’s F-35 on Steady Path to IOC

[Avionics Today 08-25-2014] The Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program is maturing steadily after a number of flight-test milestones achieved in August, including weapons separation, software compatibility and flight hours.

On its path to Initial Operational Capability (IOC) the F-35A aircraft AF-1 accomplished its 400th flight during a successful GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) aircraft separation test on Aug. 13, at Edwards Air Force Base in California. This was the first GBU-31 Mark-84 (2,000-pound guided munition) separation demonstration from the F-35, although previous GBU-31 separations were with the Bomb Live Unit (BLU) -109 bomb body.