[EQAndyBuzz]

Why would a 5th gen aircraft that is stealth have external armament? Or is that what “Beast Mode” is?

[Vermont Lt]

The article states that this is more they would use AFTER stealth is no longer an issue. I guess on day 3 of a war they will probably know we are coming.

[gaijin]

Beast Mode is when they’re all dirtied up with ungainly, heavy stuff (which would negate stealth) mounted on the external pylons.

[Yo-Yo]

Why would a 5th gen aircraft that is stealth have external armament? Or is that what “Beast Mode” is?

The F-35, in all three of its guises, was designed to have "first day of war" stealth attack capabilities, followed by unstealthy "bomb truck" capabilities further into the campaign.

The F-35 was designed to either carry a small internal stealthy payload, or large, unstealthy external payload.

This is demonstrating the external payload capabilities of the F-35B.

[Jewbacca]

Third day of war configuration means air-to-air and Surface-to-air nonvisual weaponrybof the enemy is substantially downgraded or eliminated.

[PeterPrinciple]

Why would a 5th gen aircraft that is stealth have external armament? Or is that what “Beast Mode” is?

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This configuration involving external loads is also referred to as a “Third Day of War” configuration as opposed to a “First Day of War” one in which the F-35 would carry weapons internally to maintain low radar cross-section and observability from sensors.

Sometimes articles do contain information.