Page 7 - Aerotech News and Review May 5 2017

Lockheed Martin continues successful flight demonstrations of Fury Expeditionary UAS
F-35, from 6
said. The deployment allows the F-35A pilots and supporting airmen the opportunity to engage in familiarization training within the European theater while reassuring allies and part- ners of U.S. dedication to the enduring peace and stability of the region, according to U.S. Air Forces in Europe officials.
The aircraft and airmen are from the Air Force’s 34th Fighter Squadron and the Air Force Reserve’s 466th Fighter Squadron. Both units are based at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.
The F-35As were joined by an Air Force KC-135 Strato- tanker, which departed from Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England. The air refueler is an Air Force Reserve aircraft forward-deployed from the 459th Air Reserve Wing at An- drews Air Force Base, Maryland, and showcases the com- mand’s ability to employ active and reserve airmen across the globe, Eucom officials said.
As the first European flying training deployment for the F-35A, these movements signify an important milestone and natural progression of the joint strike fighter program throughout Europe, the officials said.
This long-planned deployment continues to galvanize the U.S. commitment to security and stability throughout Eu- rope, Eucom officials said. The aircraft and airmen began ar- riving in Europe April 15 and will remain for several weeks.
The F-35A forward deployments throughout Europe maxi- mize opportunities for training while also strengthening the NATO alliance, the officials said. The introduction of the premier fifth-generation fighter to Europe brings state-of- the-art sensors, interoperability and a vast array of advanced air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions that will help main- tain the fundamental territorial and air sovereignty rights of all nations, Eucom officials said. The fighter provides unprecedented precision-attack capability against current and emerging threats with unmatched lethality, survivability and interoperability, they said.
Lockheed Martin’s advanced tactical Group 3 unmanned aerial system (UAS), Fury, is regularly flying long-range endurance test missions as the company prepares it for low-rate production.
In flight tests since May 2016, Fury has flown more than 200 hours and reliably demonstrated more than 12-hour endurance, while simultaneously operating 100 pounds of payloads, including electro-optical/infrared surveillance systems, voice communica- tions relays, SATCOM links, and multiple signals intelligence payloads.
The ramp-up in flight tests and demonstrations has grown sig- nificantly. Fury has completed over 400 flight test hours, with significant increase in the second half of 2016.
“These flight tests have consistently proven that Fury is a true ‘anytime, anywhere’ tactical Group 3 aircraft. Fury can be de- ployed to execute strategic and tactical Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions with endurance and capability pre- viously found only in Group 4 systems,” said Kevin Westfall, Director of Unmanned Systems at Lockheed Martin. “We continue
to investment internally in Fury to deliver this proven, critical capability at the best value for our customers.”
Lockheed Martin regularly flies Fury at its operating base at the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona where the team inserts pre- planned product improvements to further the Fury capability. Fury can support multiple payload integration, making it possible to efficiently execute various missions with a single aircraft.
Additionally, infrastructure is in place at Lockheed Martin man- ufacturing facilities to quickly deliver Fury and to rapidly scale up to full-rate production needs, Westfall said. Lockheed Martin is in discussions with potential domestic and international customers.
Lockheed Martin has five decades of experience in unmanned and autonomous systems for air, land and sea. From the depths of the ocean to the rarified air of the stratosphere, Lockheed Mar- tin’s unmanned systems help our military, civil and commercial customers accomplish their most difficult challenges.
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