The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike fighter recently wrapped up tested on a lighting assembly that will enable the Navy's F-35C and Marine Corps F-35B variants to conduct aerial refueling at night with the Air Force's KC-135 Stratotanker. According to a recent release, the light will attach to a refueling probe to illuminate the refueling basket, allowing the F-35 pilot to see to connect with the other aircraft. The original lighting design had made it hard for the KC-135 boom operator to see the silhouette of the F-35. Flight testing of the redesigned light was led by Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland, and supported by Edwards Air Force Base, California. The evaluation went well, and the redesigned lighting assembly will not be considered by the Air Refueling Certification Agency and could be incorporated into a revised flight clearance for the Navy and Marine Corps by early summer. Read more at AF.mil.
F-35 Tests Aerial Refueling Upgrade
