Lockheed Martin applies AI to strengthen F-35 Lightning II combat identification in first in-flight demonstration

The effort builds on work across the company to innovate with intent to meet the warfighter’s real-time needs in an evolving threat environment. It reflects a focus on accelerating capability at scale with speed, including deploying real-time, over-the-air software updates to the Aegis Combat System on deployed U.S. Navy ships in the Red Sea to enable rapid countermeasures against advanced drone and missile threats.

During the Project Overwatch test flight conducted at Nellis Air Force Base, a Lockheed Martin-built and trained AI and machine learning model resolved identification ambiguities among emitters. The capability improved situational awareness and reduced pilot decision-making latency.

Engineers used an automated tool to label new emitters and retrain the AI model to recognize a new emitter class within minutes. The updated model was then reloaded for the next flight within the same mission planning cycle.

Embedding the advanced AI into the F-35’s mission system is intended to help pilots understand threats faster and make decisions more quickly. The company said it will continue improving the capability by expanding the AI model’s training to enhance reliability and accuracy.

“This is a demonstration of 6th Gen technology brought to a 5th Gen platform,” said Jake Wertz, vice president of F-35 Combat Systems at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. “Equally important is our ability to re program the AI model on the ground and have those updates available for the next sortie—an essential step toward maintaining a tactical edge in a rapidly evolving threat environment. These capabilities embody Lockheed Martin’s 21st century strategy, which advances every product line by integrating next generation performance, continual software modernization, and AI driven decision making to keep our customers ahead of emerging challenges.”

Lockheed Martin said it has decades of investment and innovation in AI aimed at making its systems smarter, more secure and more interconnected. The company stated that initiatives such as Project Overwatch demonstrate how it is building solutions that integrate seamlessly and deliver immediate value, and that the flight test results will inform future development and potential integration pathways.

With 12 nations operating the F-35 and more than 1,300 aircraft in service, the platform continues to expand across the global fleet. Lockheed Martin said it is positioned to keep the fleet at the cutting edge of technology and to support allies as they expand their capabilities worldwide to ensure the F-35 remains an indispensable contributor to global security for decades to come.