Jane Edwards
Steve Over, director of F-35 international business development at Lockheed Martin, has said he thinks pilots flying the F-35 Lightning II aircraft could someday operate and launch drones during missions, Forces.net reported Thursday.
He noted that the fighter jet in stealth mode could be used in the future to field a drone to trigger an enemy’s air defenses, a capability he believes could lead to the destruction of the adversary’s radar systems.
“So, wouldn’t it be nice if I had a little un-stealthy drone that I could release from the F-35 and it could be the thing that stimulates their air defenses? That’s the kind of thing I can see evolving,†Over told the Press Association about the future capability.
“So that with the sensors on board my aircraft, I can target things and then deploy weapons from the little companion wingman,†he added.
