An F-35 stealth fighter successfully destroyed a target drone with a short range missile on July 28, marking the first live air-to-air kill ...
An F-35 stealth fighter successfully destroyed a target drone with a short range missile on July 28, marking the first live air-to-air kill for the type.
U.S. Air Force test pilot, Maj. Raven LeClair, fired an heat seeking AIM-9X missile from an F-35A's external wing to engage the aerial drone target in a restricted military sea test range airspace off the California coast.
After launch, the missile successfully acquired the target and followed an intercept flight profile before destroying the drone, achieving the first F-35 Air-to-Air kill or “Boola Boola,” which is the traditional radio call made when a pilot shoots down a drone.
Immediately prior to launching the AIM-9X, LeClair employed an internally carried AIM-120C missile against another target drone. This target was beyond visual range and the AIM-120C was given a successful self-destruct signal right before target impact.
The missile test is part of a weapons delivery accuracy surge being conducted by the F-35 Joint Program Office to advance the latest 3F software testing, which will provide full warfighting capabilities to the F-35. Other ordnance being released during surge testing include: Small Diameter Bombs, Joint Direct Attack Munitions and AIM-120s.
The F-35 can carry two AIM-9X missiles on its wings and four AIM-120s internally when configured for an air dominance mission. During previous test shots a self-destruct signal had been sent to the missile prior to it hitting the target.
These test firings advances integration of the AIM-9X, with introduction across the F-35 fleet expected in 2017.
U.S. Air Force test pilot, Maj. Raven LeClair, fired an heat seeking AIM-9X missile from an F-35A's external wing to engage the aerial drone target in a restricted military sea test range airspace off the California coast.
After launch, the missile successfully acquired the target and followed an intercept flight profile before destroying the drone, achieving the first F-35 Air-to-Air kill or “Boola Boola,” which is the traditional radio call made when a pilot shoots down a drone.
Immediately prior to launching the AIM-9X, LeClair employed an internally carried AIM-120C missile against another target drone. This target was beyond visual range and the AIM-120C was given a successful self-destruct signal right before target impact.
The missile test is part of a weapons delivery accuracy surge being conducted by the F-35 Joint Program Office to advance the latest 3F software testing, which will provide full warfighting capabilities to the F-35. Other ordnance being released during surge testing include: Small Diameter Bombs, Joint Direct Attack Munitions and AIM-120s.
The F-35 can carry two AIM-9X missiles on its wings and four AIM-120s internally when configured for an air dominance mission. During previous test shots a self-destruct signal had been sent to the missile prior to it hitting the target.
These test firings advances integration of the AIM-9X, with introduction across the F-35 fleet expected in 2017.
