Efforts to equip the F-35C with the LRASM anti-ship missile have advanced following the successful completion of the program’s initial flight test phase. The evaluation focused on assessing flight characteristics with the missile attached across the aircraft’s operational envelope. Upcoming stages will examine safe release procedures and full mission performance. Combining the stealth and sensor capabilities of the F-35C with the autonomous targeting features of the LRASM is expected to significantly strengthen US naval strike operations, particularly in contested Indo-Pacific scenarios.
