F-35s, The Ultimate “Flying Computer.” Here’s Why:

Video Above: F-35s to Europe

By Kris Osborn – President & Editor-In-Chief, Warrior Maven

Identifying a Chinese or Russian 5th-generation jet from safe stand-off ranges, ensuring a smooth and successful “glide slope” landing onto a carrier deck, merging otherwise disparate pools of information into a single organized, integrated picture for pilots and quickly integrating new, paradigm-changing air-dropped weapons are all capabilities now fundamental to the operation of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

F-35s – Flying Computer

These factors help explain why the F-35 is often referred to as a “flying computer,” alongside being more generally known as a high-speed, stealthy and maneuverable multi-role attack fighter. Much, if not most, of the jet’s advanced performance is made possible by advanced computing, something easily overlooked or even eclipsed by the jet’s other, more visible and well-known attributes.

While many F-35 missions and operations of course directly pertain to a “kinetic” kill, attack or combat engagement, they are all largely enabled by computer technology.

Sensor Fusion

The jet’s well-known “sensor fusion” which relies upon an advanced, AI-like ability to gather, distill, integrate and present vast amounts of otherwise overwhelming data is enabled by computing. 

This means infrared and EO/IR sensor data, navigational and terrain specifics, weapons guidance technology and even EW information are all compiled, analyzed in relation to one another and presented to pilots in an integrated single picture. F-35 computing also enables its sensors to complete rapid threat identification and attack planning at safer, undetected stand-off ranges by bouncing incoming data off of its Mission Data Files database library cataloging known threats.