Posted on 02/01/2020 2:38:10 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum
Recently leaked video sheds light on one of the F-35s 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 DCosta offered some clarifying insight to The Aviationist: Its 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 sites location remains disputed, the bombs depicted in the video are widely believed to be Paveway IVs. 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 RAFs 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-120s/GBU-31 JDAM smart bombs for air-to-ground missions, all loaded into the F-35s internal armaments bay...
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalinterest.org ...
Spent two days in Kadena in 1969 trying to get a hop to West Coast. Bad timing though since seats were scarce as Nixon had just announced troop withdrawal from Nam. Saw a lot of 1,000 yard stares on disheveled looking Marines on their way home. God bless them.
.........~~~~~~~~~~BBBRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAPAPPPPPPAPPPAPPPPAPPPP~~~~~~~~..... Loved those A-10’s.
The A-10 would be shot down in a minute during the first few days of war. They are great for ground attack in a mostly friendly-controlled airspace.
“They are great for ground attack in a mostly friendly-controlled airspace.”
Like the Iraq war that had the Iraq Airfarce knocked out in just a few hours.
Bureaucrats! The correct technical term is "we effin wasted his ass."
No, there’s never going to be a conflict with any nuclear power using these types of weapons. There will only be proxy wars like the ones going on in the Middle East. Why do you think Iran wants a nuke so badly? It knows the US will never directly attack a country that has the bomb. N. Korea is as evil as any country on earth, but you don’t see the US threatening it with war. WWII is over. There won’t be any more grand tank battles or bombing raids with one of our true enemies, only with their proxies.
But is one of the missiles transgender? How many are missiles of color?
Republicans only care if they hit the target, and while interested in diversity of targeting are inexcusably unconcerned with strict diversity of appearance.
The doctrine of relying only on nukes means you lose anything not sufficient to justify nukes and suffering counter strikes. Weve been down that path before.
Yes the F22 and the F16V’s with upgraded radar and avionics.
Brrrt...
Better to have too many tools, than to not have the right one when you need it.
Nothing like jumping in and fighting the ARFOR or aggressor forces and this War Hog shows up win mini guns blazing to pave the way for Light Infantry on foot.
The Army likes the Warthog, its the Air Force that doesnt.
The problem with the Warthog is that it is slow. An F-15E or F-35 can get to the target in half the time. When there are troops in trouble thats important.
Nice contrast to other stories about the “super weapons” others have been claiming to develop...we are number 1...
Could be. Depends on what army you’re fighting.
If they have effective air defenses, the A-10 is a duck.
You can blame Dubya and Donald "we don't need no stinkin' F-22s" Rumsfeld as much if not more than Obummer.
Most slow movers are with effective air defenses. The trick is to use them when ADA is minimal or has already been destroyed.
Yep. What it has going for it is that it is tough as hell.
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