In recent years the Pentagon has increasingly been developing the F-35 for a wide swath of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
Tracking ballistic missiles in space, finding incoming anti-ship missiles and offering forward video-datalink images of enemies from safe stand-off distances are all missions perhaps not typically thought of for the F-35.
However, in recent years the Pentagon has increasingly been developing the F-35 for a wide swath of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The idea would be to leverage its advanced suite of long-range sensors and targeting technologies. In fact, it would not be a stretch to say that the F-35 can function as a long-range drone, aerial relay node, missile tracker or surveillance plane.
Its 360-degree surround cameras, called the Distributed Aperture System, and its long-range Electro-Optical infrared targeting technologies were initially conceived as a way to inform pilots about far away enemy aircraft and provide navigational information to empower its multi-role attack mission set.
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Update: Could This Be America's Most Expensive Combat Drone Ever? (Zero Hedge)
WNU Editor: The F-35 has range limitations. A long range drone is not in the cards for the F-35.
