MOJAVE DESERT, Calif. (Aug. 28, 2014) A U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the Dust Devils of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 31 at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Calif., conducts an interoperability test event with a Navy F-35C Lightning II joint strike fighter aircraft over the Edwards Air Force Base test range with the Mojave Desert below. The two aircraft engaged in a series of electronic exchanges to ensure that communications and sensor information could be passed effectively between platforms. The F-35C is the Navy's variant of the joint strike fighter, designed to operate at sea on aircraft carriers and is scheduled for initial deployment in 2019. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin by Matt Short)