On August 7, Lockheed Martin presented a missile-defense concept that could give the F-35 Lightning II a more prominent role in the detection and engagement of incoming threats. Under the proposed architecture, F-35s would collect and transmit tracking and targeting information from the air, potentially accelerating the process from initial detection to weapon employment. At the heart of the concept is the use of the F-35 as a networked airborne sensor node. Data gathered by the aircraft could be shared with command-and-control systems such as the Command and Control, Battle Management, and Communications (C2BMC) network, allowing information from the aircraft to contribute to a broader missile-defense picture. If implemented, this approach would extend the F-35’s utility well beyond its conventional roles in air combat and precision strike. Let’s take a deeper look at how this architect

Source: F – 35 slated to be a major element in U.S. Air Defense architecture !