Lockheed Martin's F-35B fighter jet made its fight nighttime vertical landing on the USS WASP assault ship last week and a video of the landing has gone viral.
The flight was performed by U.S. Marine Corps test pilot Lt. Col. Russell Clift on Aug. 14 according to AL.com.
"Pilots will expand the F-35Bs allowable wind envelope for launch and recovery, conduct first-ever night operations at sea, conduct initial mission systems evaluations at sea, evaluate the dynamic interface associated with aircraft operations on a moving flight deck, and further evaluate shipboard sustainment of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter," said the U.S. Marine Corps in a press statement.
Two F-35Bs have participated in trials recently and have completed 40 successful short takeoffs and 31 vertical landings.
Once trials have been completed the Navy and Marine Corps will have "enough data" to being incorporating the jet into shipboard operations according to Lockheed Martin officials.
"It all went extremely well," Clift said in a press statement. "Eight successful landings in one night, so we're tracking favorably along the learning curve."
Lockheed expects the F-35Bs to reach operating capability in 2015.
The F-35 program began in 2003, and has been delayed over cost overruns. The initial cost started at $233 billion, but it's been increased to over $385 billion since.
The program is one of the most expensive weapons programs ever according to the Associated Press.
Lockheed Martin employs approximately 116,000 people worldwide.
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