(Reuters) – U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin said on Tuesday it completed an initial flight test integrating a long-range anti-ship missile (LRASM) weapon system onto the F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jet.
The upgrade will allow the F-35 fighter jet to carry Lockheed’s AGM-158 strike systems – the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) and the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM).
“Integration of the AGM-158 strike systems family delivers increased reach and lethality against heavily protected, strategic targets,” Jon Hill, vice president, Air Dominance and Strike Weapons at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, said.
The test, conducted in collaboration with the F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force, marked the inaugural flight of the F-35B with advanced weapons.
The F-35 program contributes about 30% of the company’s revenue. However, it has been facing delays in rolling out a technology upgrade known as Technology Refresh 3, which aims to improve the jet’s displays and processing power.
(Reporting by Kannaki Deka in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)
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