For the first time outside the United States, an F-35 aircraft located and identified a ground target before transmitting the information directly to the Keystone system. Keystone then automatically relayed the data to an army unit, which eliminated the target using the PULS rocket artillery system.
This entire process—from target detection to missile launch—was completed within minutes. The test was carried out with support from the United States Air Force, F-35 manufacturer Lockheed Martin, and Dutch research organisation TNO.
The Keystone programme, introduced by the Air Force last year, demonstrates how quickly an operational concept can deliver tangible results. “The cooperation with military and civilian partners has led to this successful test,” the Ministry of Defence stated.
According to the Air Force, this achievement marks a significant step forward in multi-domain operations within NATO. The live exchange of combat data is seen as a major development in improving coordination and response times on the modern battlefield.
Photo: Ministry of Defence of the Netherlands.
