Marines, Navy test the F-35B aboard the USS Wasp

[Teh One Who Knocks]

by Matt Knight - WTKR News Channel 3




Norfolk, Va. – Two F-35B Lightning II jets touched down aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp Aug. 12, kicking off a second round of testing of the new aircraft.

The second of three test phases (DT-II) includes the first night operation at sea as well as the first launch and recovery of the F-35B at sea by a U.K. test pilot.

The F-35 Lightning II is the next generation strike aircraft for the Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force, as well as eight international partners. The jet combines advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and advanced sustainment.

The Wasp is testing the F-35B, which has short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) capability, enabling it to operate from a wider range of ships and in support of expeditionary operations.

“It’s a significant milestone for the F-35 program,” said Capt. Erik Etz, Director, Test & Evaluation F-35 Naval Variants. “We’re providing an envelope that will be utilized by Marine Corps and U.K. aviators when they go out and employ the aircraft in a real environment. The ability to operate at night is critical and so certainly the testing we’re doing here will provide a significant amount of data so we can clear the envelope and clear the aircraft to operate day and night, when the Marine Corps takes the F-35B to initial operating capability in 2015.”

[Acid Trip]