During a recent live-firing test, an F-35C fighter aircraft from Patuxent River Navy Base has fired an AIM-9X Sidewinder missile while inverted. Although firing a missile upside-down is not unheard, this is the first time the Joint Strike Fighter performed such launch.

AIM-9X is a heat-seeking infrared air-to-air missile and is currently deployed on the US F-15, F-16 and F-18 Super Hornets. Developed by Raytheon, AIM-9X is currently in service with over 40 countries across the world.

So far, there has not been any information concerning the test on Lockheed Martin's official website, which was carried out by the F-35C's pilot James Shepherd and thus, it is unclear if the inverted live-firing is a routine part of F-35 development programme.