Maintenance and Modifications
F-35 Maintenance Support System Advances Without Downlink
The Prognostics and Health Management downlink has been deferred for later development, according to the F-35 Joint Program Office.
Testing of the ALIS system health management downlink revealed the need for enhanced security measures. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)
Testing of the ALIS system health management downlink revealed the need for enhanced security measures. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)

The maintenance and logistics support system for the F-35 Lightning II is about two-thirds of the way toward completion, but it will initially operate without a planned data link capability that would enable the fighter to transmit information to the ground while airborne. The so-called Prognostics and Health Management downlink has been deferred for later development to better secure the data stream, according to the Pentagon’s F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO).