F-35 Sends Classified Info To RAF From Texas

Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) Skunk Works and the United Kingdom Royal Air Force (RAF) Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO) completed the first-ever live F-35 classified data-share with a non-U.S. Command and Control (C2) system.  

In this real-time live fly demonstration, an F-35 flying from Lockheed Martin’s facility in Fort Worth, Texas, shared classified data via a Skunk Works’ Open Systems Gateway (OSG) through commercial satellite communications and into an RAF RCO lab in Farnborough, UK, where it was ingested into the Nexus C2 system. This achievement marks a significant step forward in multi-domain integration, enabling F-35 interoperability in real-time with a non-U.S. C2 system.  

“Project DEIMOS was a hugely successful U.K. / U.S. trial which clearly demonstrated the ability to take data from a live F-35 and pass this to the RAF’s NEXUS platform for exploitation. This represents a key step forward towards both a future integrated battlespace and Air Command and Control environment,” said Air Commodore Chris Melville, head of rapid capabilities office, Royal Air Force. “The RAF Rapid Capabilities Office working in partnership with both Lockheed Martin and SiXWorks, has proven how collaborative working with key industry partners can quickly and efficiently drive both innovation and future capability. We are all delighted with the results.” 

"This exercise marks a breakthrough in multi-domain operations, demonstrating the F-35’s ability to share classified data via an open systems gateway with our international partners. We collaborated closely with the U.K. Ministry of Defence and industry to achieve this feat, highlighting the power of partnership in driving innovation,” said John Clark, vice president and general manager, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works. “Collaborations like this allow us to deliver advanced capabilities quickly to meet urgent needs in an increasingly complicated global threat environment.”