The sixth F-35 JSF development aircraft made its first flight from Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth facility on April 7.
The aircraft, an F-35B dubbed BF-4, is the first of the planned 20 development aircraft to be fitted with a mission system and sensor suite, and Block 0.5 flight software. Sensors fitted include an APG-81 AESA radar, electronic warfare suite, and the pilot’s VSI helmet mounted display. Still to be installed are the electro-optical (EO) targeting system and 360-deg EO distributed aperture system.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
The aircraft, which flew 13 months later than scheduled, reached an altitude of 15,500ft during its 51 minute flight.
Want to see more stories from trusted news sources?
Make Australian Aviation a preferred news source on Google.
Click here to add Australian Aviation as a preferred news source.