The U.S. Navy’s F-35C Lightning II has conducted its first arrested landing aboard a Ford-class aircraft carrier, achieving the milestone on the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) in the Western Atlantic on October 13. The successful recovery marks a significant step in validating the integration of the Navy’s fifth-generation stealth fighter with its newest carrier class, particularly given the technical challenges associated with integrating advanced aircraft launch and recovery systems.
Two F-35C test pilots assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23 (VX-23), part of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), flew to the carrier as part of an ongoing Aircraft Compatibility Testing (ACT) campaign. The evaluation is being conducted by a team from the F-35 Integrated Test Force (ITF), based at Patuxent River, Maryland, which has deployed personnel aboard the ship. Using a specially instrumented F-35C, the team is collecting data to assess the aircraft’s compatibility with the carrier’s flight-deck operations and recovery systems.
This milestone warrants closer examination.
Source: Defense Updates
