Over horizon with DDGs, F-35s

Over horizon with DDGs, F-35s The Navy and Lockheed Martin are planning to demonstrate a beyond-the-horizon anti-ship missile detection and technology using an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter by 2016. The Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air (NIFC-CA) system uses Aegis radar, an airborne sensor and SM-6 missile to find, track and destroy approaching threats at ranges beyond the typical radar horizon. NIFC-CA uses an E-2D Hawkeye as an airborne sensor to relay threat information to the ship beyond radar range. LM is working with Naval Sea Systems Command to plan an NIFC-CA demonstration at White Sands (NM) Missile Range by 2016. The idea and demonstration would be to use an F-35 as an airborne relay sensor to replace the E-2D. Alongside this defensive role, NIFC-CA technology can bring offensive firepower to Navy ships and allowing them to attack targets at much greater ranges. NIFCA-CA is slated to deploy later this year with Navy forces as part of the Teddy Roosevelt Carrier Battle Group. Gulf Coast Note: NIFC-CA is part of the Navy’s upgraded Aegis ballistic missile defense system - called Baseline 9 – and also is being engineered into destroyers (DDG 113 through DDG 118). DDG 113 John Finn, DDG 114 Ralph Johnson and DDG 117 Paul Ignatius are either under construction or been awarded for build at Huntington Ingalls’ shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss. Also, initial F-35 pilot and maintenance training is conducted at Eglin AFB, Fla. (Source: Defense Tech, 01/22/15)