USS Tripoli (LHA 7) demonstrated the lightning carrier concept recently in the Pacific Ocean and 20 F-35Bs from VMFA-211, 225 and VMX-1 were able to take off and land on the amphibious assault ship.
A recent flight test over central Texas saw an E-3G AWACS update its electronic support measures (ESM) database in real-time using existing beyond line-of-site satellite communications system.