The first aerial test of the F-35A's internal 25mm Gatling gun system has been successfully completed, Lockheed Martin reports.

The Oct. 30 test flight conducted in California was the first in a series to functionally evaluate in-flight operations of the F-35A variant and a major event in certifying the Gun Airborne Unit--22/A Gatling gun for use on the aircraft.

"The successful aerial gun test sortie was a culmination of several years' planning, which intensified in the first half of 2015 at the Edwards (Air Force Base) F-35 Integrated Test Force Flight Test Squadron with a team of Air Force, Lockheed Martin, Pratt & Whitney, General Dynamics, and Northrop Grumman personnel," said Mike Glass, Edwards ITF flight test director.

"The results of this testing will be used in future blocks of testing, where the accuracy and mission effectiveness capabilities will be evaluated."

The test aircraft was an "A" variant -- conventional takeoff and landing -- plane modified by the air base, with the gun system integrated into the airframe. It was piloted by F-35 test pilot Maj. Charles "Flak" Trickey.

Lockheed said the 25mm weapon was embedded in the F-35A's left wing and fired three times.

Initial ground tests began in June.

The gun system will be further tested with a production F-35A next year for integration with the jet's full mission systems capabilities. It is expected the system development and demonstration phase for the gun system will be completed in 2017.