Northrop Grumman announced Monday that it has delivered the initial, flight-ready integrated communications, navigation, and identification system for the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter to prime contractor Lockheed Martin. This package is planned for use aboard the first mission systems-equipped F-35 aircraft, which is expected to fly this summer. The CNI system will provide the equivalent of more than 40 avionics subsystem functions to F-35 pilots, including identification friend or foe, automatic acquisition of fly-to points, and various voice and data communications such as the multifunction advanced data link, according to Northrop. Roger Fujii, Northrop’s vice president of network communication systems, said the company has been “pleased” with the CNI system’s performance on Lockheed’s F-35 avionics testbed aircraft, known as the CATBird. “Those flight tests give us high confidence in the next-generation communications capabilities we continue to bring to the warfighter,” he said.
Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.