F-35 to become 'aerial eye' for missile defense, Lockheed Martin proposes

Lockheed Martin is positioning the F-35 fighter jet as a crucial component in a layered missile defense network, extending its role beyond aerial combat to become an "aerial eye" for tracking incoming missiles. The defense contractor has unveiled an integrated architecture designed to connect space-based sensors with the F-35 and ground command systems.

Under this proposed framework, space-based missile warning and tracking systems would detect a missile launch. The F-35 would then receive this early warning data, utilizing its onboard sensors like the Distributed Aperture System (DAS) and Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS), along with its data fusion capabilities, to continuously track the threat. This information would then be relayed through ground command and control systems, such as the Command, Control, Battle Management, and Communications (C2BMC) system, to enable interception by systems like the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) or Patriot PAC-3.

Lockheed Martin emphasizes that the future of missile defense relies not just on individual interceptors but on the rapid sharing of information across space, air, and ground sensors and command networks. In this concept, the F-35's role evolves from a traditional fighter to a vital node providing aerial sensing and tracking data. While this represents Lockheed Martin's vision for integrated missile defense capabilities, it does not signify that the U.S. military has fully deployed the F-35 for this specific operational process.