F-35B aces first release of a UK Paveway IV Bomb

[ricnunes]

GBU-49 and Paveway IV have different mass and aerodynamic properties which is why there
had to be a separate store integration campaign on the F-35B for the Paveway IV a lot of which
was building up the release envelopes. It's the same reason why LJDAM and LSDB probably
won't be considered for Block 3F since they are aero/mass wise distinct from the non-laser versions.

Absolutely.
The fact that both GBU-49 and Paveway IV have different warheads and airfoils (as it can be seen above) is certainly the reason why they have different mass and aerodynamic properties.
Actually it can be seen in the image above that the GBU-49 weights 627lb while the Paveway IV weights 680lb.

The only other thing I can think of is that PavewayIV is only on the F-35B for Block3F and not the F-35A.

That's that this graphic seems to indicate.

Page 4-6
http://www.gunnies.com.au/docs/F-35_weapons_roadmap.pdf

It seems that when the F-35s will share weapons eventually, early blocks will not (ie F-35C only having JSOW at 3F, UK only using ASRAAM/Pv4, etc).

Here I echo marauder2048's post.
The GBU-49 and Paveway IV have different warheads and airfoils which means that they have different mass and aerodynamic properties and this together with a somehow different weapons bay between the F-35B and the F-35A (for example) means that in order to certificate the F-35A to use Paveway IV there's the need of further tests (namely separation tests) in this F-35 variant.
But in terms of electronics/guidance system both GBU-49 and Paveway IV seem to be the same thing.
This being said, the fact that the F-35A (Block 3F) won't cleared to use the Paveway IV doesn't means it's software issue (afterall all variants of the F-35 use the exact same software) but instead it's a "physical issue" or more precisely a lack of Paveway IV testing with the F-35A (Paveway IV was only tested for far on the F-35B).

[neptune]

GBU-49 and Paveway IV have different mass and aerodynamic properties which is why there
had to be a separate store integration campaign on the F-35B for the Paveway IV a lot of which
was building up the release envelopes. It's the same reason why LJDAM and LSDB probably
won't be considered for Block 3F since they are aero/mass wise distinct from the non-laser versions.

Absolutely.
The fact that both GBU-49 and Paveway IV have different warheads and airfoils (as it can be seen above) is certainly the reason why they have different mass and aerodynamic properties.
Actually it can be seen in the image above that the GBU-49 weights 627lb while the Paveway IV weights 680lb.

The only other thing I can think of is that PavewayIV is only on the F-35B for Block3F and not the F-35A.

That's that this graphic seems to indicate.

Page 4-6
http://www.gunnies.com.au/docs/F-35_weapons_roadmap.pdf

It seems that when the F-35s will share weapons eventually, early blocks will not (ie F-35C only having JSOW at 3F, UK only using ASRAAM/Pv4, etc).

Here I echo marauder2048's post.
The GBU-49 and Paveway IV have different warheads and airfoils which means that they have different mass and aerodynamic properties and this together with a somehow different weapons bay between the F-35B and the F-35A (for example) means that in order to certificate the F-35A to use Paveway IV there's the need of further tests (namely separation tests) in this F-35 variant.
But in terms of electronics/guidance system both GBU-49 and Paveway IV seem to be the same thing.
This being said, the fact that the F-35A (Block 3F) won't cleared to use the Paveway IV doesn't means it's software issue (afterall all variants of the F-35 use the exact same software) but instead it's a "physical issue" or more precisely a lack of Paveway IV testing with the F-35A (Paveway IV was only tested for far on the F-35B).

...so both are mil-std-1760??...

....has anything dropped to date, not -1760??

[ricnunes]

...so both are mil-std-1760??...

Yes, it seems so.
For example according to the following site:
http://defense-update.com/products/p/paveway.htm

Enhanced Laser Guided Bombs (ELGB) are enhanced with additional GPS guidance capability, to enable improved operational flexibility and employment under adverse weather conditions such as heavy clouds coverage, minimizing laser use (stealth) or presence of countermeasures. With the addition of GPS capability, the LGB can "memorize" the laser spot location, and continue to navigate to this spot for up to 10 seconds after the laser designation goes off for any reason. The weapon can also be employed in GPS only mode, attacking targets whose coordinates are known. The Enhanced Paveway interfaces with the aircraft avionics over the Mil-Std 1760 armament bus, and can be programmed to memorize up to eight target locations, to enable rapid retargeting during flight. When 1760 is not available (older aircraft), the weapon can be programmed with one target prior to takeoff, and engage targets designated by coded laser, when such signals are detected.

[doge]

I found a video dropping 5 PavewayIVs at the same time and a moving target attack video, so I post it.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BsbbQdwguH3/
https://www.instagram.com/p/Briv79AgRzH/

[ricnunes]

Nice video doge

[wrightwing]

Impressive, especially if the F-35 was guiding all 5 simultaneously.

[sprstdlyscottsmn]

Impressive, especially if the F-35 was guiding all 5 simultaneously.

That's the part I question. How many were being guided and in what way?

[SpudmanWP]

Well, the 4 fixed targets were likely GPS with laser updates to cover accuracy and the moving target was laser.

[quicksilver]

Station release sequence and interval vs assigned targets would be an interesting topic to understand given a moving target within some proximity to those that are stationary. Am sure they’ve considered but I’d be interested in knowing the potential for bomb-to-bomb collisions...

[doge]

I found a new Paveway IV moving target attack video, so I post it.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwXackhBo37/

[steve2267]

Nice find, Doge!