Posted on 02/01/2020 2:38:10 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum
Recently leaked video sheds light on one of the F-35’s possible weapons configurations, previously dubbed as “beast mode” in a Lockheed Martin infographic.
The video, dating back to November of 2018, depicts an F-35 simultaneously firing five air-to-surface missiles against five test targets. At least one of the targets-- a light vehicle-- can be seen moving.
Though it is presently unconfirmed where the trial took place and what kind of guided bomb was used, defense expert Ian D’Costa offered some clarifying insight to The Aviationist: “It’s an F-35 at NTTR (Nellis Test and Training Range), I could be wrong, but it [seems to be] dropping five Paveway IVs and hitting all five targets with GEOT (Good Effect On Target).”
While the site’s location remains disputed, the bombs depicted in the video are widely believed to be Paveway IV’s. Paveway IV is a 500-pound, British laser-guided bomb, described by the U.K military describes as “an advanced and highly accurate weapon that provides the RAF’s strike force with a state-of-the-art precision guided bombing capability.”
Paveway IV, introduced in 2008 and currently confirmed to be in use by the British and Saudi Arabian militaries, was developed and manufactured in close cooperation with US supply chains. This test could be the latest in a round of recent US Air Force Pavement IV trials on the F-35 platform, though it should be kept in mind that the video is likely a snippet from a series of tests involving multiple weapons.
The F-35 is compatible with several weapon layouts to accommodate a wider range of tactical scenarios. The “stealth” configuration consists of four AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles for air-to-air missions, or a mixture of four AIM-120’s/GBU-31 JDAM “smart bombs” for air-to-ground missions, all loaded into the F-35’s internal armaments bay...
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalinterest.org ...
Should read => Recently “leaked” video...
Must be another whistleblower.
Does it take care of your chicken?
My favorite down and dirty of all time.
All ‘bout them missiles, boss.
BFL
Fit a Jericho siren to these bad guys and they probably wouldn’t even have to fire.
I’ll never forget the first time I heard that main gun fire.
If they didn’t have to expend the ammo I’d say do that rather than a Jericho siren on they way in :)
Would scare the carp out of me.
Tony Stark would be so proud.
Without ALIS at 100%, most of the things the plane is supposed do are limited to one off demonstrations, a few odd sorties or a photo op. Mostly its a hanger queen.
Now the B-21 may be a different story - we can hope at least - due in 3 years.
No...not at all. China not only supplied chips for the plane, but they also have stolen scehmatics of the plane, and likely stole stole everything else they possibly need by bugging routers sold to the pentagon made by Cisco.
A grunt’s best friend...
The F-35 is NOT a fighter jet.
It is a stealth weapons platform.
That can engage multiple targets at the same time.
Yeah, and that’s what worries me.
The AF hates it, so transfer to the Army. Keep it in CAS for the destruction in brings and the morale boost for the guys on the ground.
Nothing compares to that. Drones or bomb drops from three miles up do damage. CAS with the noise and destruction are what lifts the spirits.
That's what a lot of people are confused about.
Sure, it can defend itself, but the F-22 is our air superiority fighter - too bad Obama cut the fleet short.
Army hates the Warthog for some dumbass reason! Love that plane!
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