Two Royal Navy officers are playing a pivotal role in arming the UK’s F-35 Lightning jets with the nation’s latest air-to-air missile.
Pilot Lieutenant Commander Nick Baker and engineer Lieutenant Commander Lewis Roach are attached to the F-35 Integrated Test Force at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in the United States.
The duo have been at the heart of trials with Meteor missiles – already operational with RAF Typhoons – which have seen the UK’s primary air-to-air weapon loaded in the F-35’s weapons bay for the first time and the launch of an inert missile.
The milestone trials, carried out by a US Marine Corps F-35B aircraft piloted by Lt Cdr Baker, are a significant step forward in getting UK weaponry integrated onto the F-35, which operates from the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers.
Several flights with a specially-tuned Meteor were conducted to gather data on how it responded to usage from the F-35B’s weapons bay.
Lt Cdr Roach was responsible for leading the trials.
He said: “The first flight of a UK weapon on an F-35 aircraft marks a significant milestone, demonstrating the successful integration of British defence technology onto a cutting-edge fighter.
“This achievement is the result of extensive collaboration between multiple organisations, including government agencies, industry partners, and the armed forces, all working together to enhance the aircraft’s operational capability.
“In particular, this is a major step forward for the Meteor missile, showcasing its progress toward full integration and future deployment. This milestone not only strengthens the UK’s sovereign defence capabilities but also reinforces its role as a key player in advanced air combat technology.”
The sorties were made possible through collaboration between the UK and US governments as well as organisations including the Ministry of Defence, Defence Equipment & Support, and respective industrial partners MBDA and Lockheed Martin.
The radar-guided Meteor is the UK’s primary air-to-air missile, honing in on its target at up to four times the speed of sound – and at ranges as great as 120 miles from the aircraft which fires it. Currently carried on operations by Typhoon jets, with the Pax trials being progress towards enabling Meteor’s capability on F-35. While the UK is leading the integration campaign for F-35B, Italy is sponsoring integration onto the F-35A model.
Britain’s F-35 squadrons – 617 Squadron and 809 Naval Air Squadron – are currently finalising preparations for a global deployment this spring with aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales.
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