Lockheed Martin F-22 raptors are proving to be beneficial for surveillance for both the Army and United States Air Force. Tests were conducted on April 15th in an environment to simulate a war fighting environment. The two F-22 jets successfully transmitted classified data to ground stations where the data could be utilized. The JEFX 08 was where these flight simulations were conducted. Other ground and air military vehicles were tested at this event as well.
The experiment with the F-22 Jets was conducted over a two week time period. These jets were able to transmit information using an experimental version of the tactical targeting network technology developed by Rockewell Collins.
The executive Vice President, Larry Lawson, said, “Lockheed Martin was excited about the Air Force’s decision to demonstrate the value of sharing F-22 ISR data with other fighters and back to the Combined Air Operations Center.”
With these tests run as a success, this new technology will now be implemented into F-22 jets that can then go on reconnaissance missions to help gather valuable intelligence for United States forces.
The United States Air Force has been collaborating with Lockheed martin for years to implement a successful data transfer system for these jets. Larry Lawson said, “This was a team effort all the way around, from Headquarters Air Combat Command to the F-22 Program Office to the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center at Nellis AFB.”
The greatest asset that this new system boasts is that it is one step closer enabling in flight Internet transmissions. Mark Jefferson described this saying, “Our F-22s took a huge first step toward becoming net-enabled in JEFX08. The pilots were sending and receiving information such as command and control messaging, imagery, airspace updates, and free text messages using a cockpit touch-screen color display.”
