[PIF]

interesting F-55 news:

“Units flying newer F-35A aircraft discovered cracks in the outer mold-line coatings and the underlying chine longeron skin, near the gun muzzle, after aircraft returned from flights when the gun was employed,” the report DOT&E released in 2020 explained.

“Due to the recent cracking near the gun muzzle in newer F-35A aircraft, the U.S. Air Force has restricted the gun to combat use only for production Lot 9 and newer aircraft.”

https://www.twz.com/air/f-35as-beleaguered-25mm-cannon-is-finally-effective
—
no gun practice for them.

[FtrPilot]

Here's my opinion, which, in earlier times, would be considered heresy.

The F-35 doesn't need a gun...the war in Ukraine is proof.

We have munitions that can kill a moving tank from 30 miles.

Killing a tank with a gun requires the aircraft to overfly the target. Stealth doesn't work against optically aimed AAA.