In a groundbreaking development for international military collaboration, an F-35 fighter jet successfully conducted an in-air demonstration of classified data-sharing with a non-US Command and Control (C2) system. This achievement marked a historic first, thanks to a partnership between Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works and the Royal Air Force’s Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO).

The demonstration took place with an F-35 aircraft flying from Lockheed Martin’s facility in Fort Worth, Texas, while transmitting classified data to the UK’s Nexus combat cloud located in Farnborough, UK. The data-sharing was made possible through Skunk Works’ innovative Open Systems Gateway, utilizing commercial satellite communications to facilitate secure transmission across international borders.

Air Commodore Chris Melville, head of the RCO at the Royal Air Force, expressed pride in the collaboration, stating, “Project DEIMOS was a hugely successful UK/US 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.” He emphasized that this achievement represents a significant advancement toward a future integrated battlespace and enhances the Air Command and Control environment.

The successful trial effectively showcased the seamless and secure transmission of data between different national systems, underscoring its potential for multi-domain integration within allied forces. This capability improves the operational agility of the F-35 and its users, enabling them to respond effectively to rapidly evolving global combat situations.

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works Vice President and General Manager John Clark highlighted the significance of the exercise, stating, “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.” He noted that the project underscored the importance of collaboration, remarking on the close work done with the UK Ministry of Defence and industry to facilitate this achievement.

This collaboration represents not just a technical success but also a strategic move to deliver advanced capabilities rapidly, ensuring that allied forces are better equipped to face the increasingly complex global threat landscape.