Marine Corps F-35B Integrates with NIFC-CA - Intercepts Cruise Missile Target
[Kris Osborn]
Kris Osborn
Thursday at 6:11 PM
In a first-of-its kind test, the Navy used F-35B sensors as an aerial node as part of an integrated ship defense technology -- designed to destroy air and surface enemy missile threats from beyond-the-horizon.
A Marine Corps F-35B used its on-board sensors to function for the first time as a broad-area aerial relay node in an integrated fire-control weapons system designed to identify, track and destroy approaching enemy cruise missiles from distances beyond-the-horizon, service officials announced.
A Navy "desert ship" at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. designed to replicate maritime conditions, used ship-based radar to connect the F-35B sensors to detect enemy missiles at long ranges and fire an SM-6 interceptor to destroy the approaching threat.
http://www.scout.com/military/warrior/story/1702270-best-of-2016-f-35-helps-hit-anti-ship-missile