New F-35 will test weapons

F-16.net ^ | 4/21/2010 | Lockheed Martin

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

The seventh Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II flight test aircraft took to the skies for the first time today, with the overall objective of validating the F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant’s weapons suite.The jet, known as AF-2 and piloted by Lockheed Martin F-35 Test Pilot Jeff Knowles, took off at 5:27 p.m. CDT from Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base and flew for 1 hour and 23 minutes.

“The first flight of AF-2 is a significant achievement for the F-35 program, the U.S. Air Force and our international partners who will operate the F-35A,” said James “Sandy” Sandstrom, Lockheed Martin’s F-35 U.S. Air Force program manager. “This aircraft is configured to test and verify the multiple weapons loads that will deliver 5th generation combat capability to the warfighter.”

AF-2 will be used to verify the F-35A’s ability to carry both internal and external weapons throughout the required flight envelope. The jet is also the first F-35 to have the internal GAU-22/A 25-millimeter gun system installed. The system, featuring a four-barrel Gatling gun which fires at a rate of 3,000 rounds per minute, is made by General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products in Burlington, Vt.

Gun testing on AF-2 will be used to confirm predictions of gun vibration, acoustic and recoil loads with the aircraft and various weapons. Additionally, the aircraft will be used to confirm vibro-acoustic loads with the weapons-bay doors open and closed with various weapon configurations. The measurements will validate the structural design of the jet, and provide evidence of the F-35A weapons’ compatibility with gunfire and weapons-bay environments

[Jet Jaguar]

Ping.

[Secret Agent Man]

What do all those external weapons pylons do to the radar signature of the f-35? I saw a pic of it with three weapons hanging down under each wing plus an external 25 mm gatling gun under its belly.

I can’t believe this helps it be very stealthy.

[null and void]

Supersonic launch of internal weapons, including maximum-speed (Mach 1.6) launch of internal air-to-air missiles, is a feature of all F-35s. An internal-weapons-only configuration is used when Very Low Observable stealth is required to complete a mission. When VLO stealth is not required, more than 15,000 pounds of additional ordnance can be loaded onto six external pylons.

[freedumb2003]

>>I can’t believe this helps it be very stealthy.<<

I think the “Military Intelligence” profile recommendation is they go empty at night.

[freedumb2003]

>>Supersonic launch of internal weapons, including maximum-speed (Mach 1.6) launch of internal air-to-air missiles, is a feature of all F-35s. An internal-weapons-only configuration is used when Very Low Observable stealth is required to complete a mission. When VLO stealth is not required, more than 15,000 pounds of additional ordnance can be loaded onto six external pylons. <<

And this exceeds the F-16 how?

[null and void]

The F-35 can be stealthy.

[freedumb2003]

>>The F-35 can be stealthy.<<

Not with the new armor specs, last I heard.

[null and void]

Then you know more than I do.

[freedumb2003]

>>Then you know more than I do.<<

I said “heard” not “know.”

MUI the stuffed shirts have been adding weight to the F-35 to the point to perform a ton of missions not originally envisioned for an MRF to the point the engines have to be upgraded and it is now “F-22 Light” and certainly brings the Super Hornet into play as a compromise between the F-16 and the yet to be deployed F-35.

But that is all scutttlebut, so who knows. I just am convinced the F-35 has priced itself out of its original low cost MRF price/position. When you are 3 times as expensive as what you are replacing, you had better be 4 times better...

[valkyry1]

//And this exceeds the F-16 how?//

Well for starters, how about mentioning Supersonic launch of internal weapons. And then after that, the external load capacity of the F-35 compared to the F-16.

To answer your question, do you even read?

[DemforBush]

The jet is also the first F-35 to have the internal GAU-22/A 25-millimeter gun system installed.

Interesting that they went with a 25 mm gun instead of developing a variant of the M61 Vulcan. I'm assuming they went that way for superior performance against ground targets?

[maddog55]

It's anything but stealthy..

[Christian_Capitalist]

But it can be stealthy, if only carrying internal weapons, correct?

I've read that, albeit with undeniable delays and cost overruns, the aircraft have been meeting or exceeding their primary Program requirements -- including radar profile.

Just what I get from some of the "Pro" F-35 analysis I've read.

[Christian_Capitalist]

Correct; heavier shells, rained down from above.

[freedumb2003]

>>To answer your question, do you even read?<<

I read plenty. I just don’t base my comments on puff pieces, like some people do.

[maddog55]

Correct.. We’ve got a couple F-35Bs here. Cool to look at but that’s about all I’ll give it.

Some video links:
http://www.jsf.mil/video/f35test/BF-01_1st_Hover_17_MAR_2010.wmv
http://www.jsf.mil/video/f35test/BF-01_1st_STO_17_MAR_2010.wmv

Full video library:
http://www.jsf.mil/gallery/gal_video.htm#

[valkyry1]

Well you fooled me because some concepts such as internal weapons carriage and external load capacities are lost on you, that much is obvious.

Read much, comprehend less.

[freedumb2003]

>>Well you fooled me<<

Well, there you go.

[valkyry1]

If you read plenty, you should have been able to answer your own questions on the F-16 vis a vis the F-35.