The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter completed its first night flight this week, manufacturer Lockheed Martin [LMT] said yesterday.
A Lockheed Martin test pilot conducted the flight Wednesday at Edwards AFB, Calif., in an F-35A, the conventional takeoff variant being procured by the Air Force.
The flight consisted of a series of straight-in approaches in twilight and darkness and also included an evaluation of the cockpit’s lighting, the company said.
Meanwhile, the Navy’s director for air warfare, Rear Adm. Kenneth Floyd, said yesterday that the tailhook redesign for the aircraft carrier F-35C variant is nearing completion and will be tested later this year with deployment to a ship scheduled for this summer.