6 AMRAAM Loadout moved up to Block 4

[spazsinbad]

This may be a place to start: viewtopic.php?f=54&t=53327&p=381386&hilit=krjS7f9T760#p381386
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download/file.php?id=25937

[fbw]

This may be a place to start: viewtopic.php?f=54&t=53327&p=381386&hilit=krjS7f9T760#p381386
&
download/file.php?id=25937
]

Yes I remember that graphic on the video is from years ago. Bogdan’s statement was relatively recently. Really doesn’t answer the “how” anyway.

[ricnunes]

Looking at this actual mock up test, it seems clear (IMO) that having 6 internal AMRAAMs inside the both F-35 weapons bay (in the near future) is perfectly doable:

[krorvik]

I'm sure this is what you mean by "mock up test" - but to make sure noone interprets it wrong, the image is photoshopped of course.

[ricnunes]

I'm sure this is what you mean by "mock up test" - but to make sure noone interprets it wrong, the image is photoshopped of course.

Yes you're right, the image is indeed photoshopped.
However I believe that it shows (at least IMO) the feasibility of having 2xAMRAAMs in same place as 1xGBU-31, this inside the F-35 weapons bay.
Will this require some extra hardware work (namely regarding pylons)? Sure, but feasible it seems to be.

[mor10]

What is the diameter difference between an SDBII and the AIM-120C7?

Since two SDB's can fitt side by side, then unless the AMRAAM is bigger, it should be feasable without to much tidying in the bay. A suitable double ejector will obviously be needed.

[SpudmanWP]

The problem are the fins

[sprstdlyscottsmn]

Even the F-22 uses a longitudinal offset for six missiles. The F-35 bays are bigger. It may need an offset for the fins, but there is no way they simply won't fit.

[Dragon029]

Just a reminder, Lockheed (as of mid-November 2017) is close to beginning prototype testing of a solution:

[Translated:] One example is the aircraft manufacturer's own project "Sidekick", which is about stacking AMRAAM missiles on top of each other so that F-35 is able to fly with six such air-to-air missiles internally instead of four as today. Lockheed Martin has a prototype that will soon be over in operational testing.

By "operational testing" I'm pretty sure the original wording meant physical prototype testing on the ground. I would also be wary of reading too much into the "stacking AMRAAM missiles on top of each other" statement.

[Corsair1963]

Never heard of it as "Sidekick" before??? Also, odds that so little information is available to the general public???

[mixelflick]

Stacking missiles on top of each other...

Wasn't that a big concern for the YF-23? I seem to recall a concern being voiced by the USAF concerning that arrangement jamming. In any case, I can't wait for the F-35 to get 6 AMRAAM's.

[vilters]

LOL,
Germany has 122 Tiffy's to get 4 of them combat ready. (four)

With 6 Amraams on board, you have 2 spares.

End of LOL.

[wrightwing]

Stacking missiles on top of each other...

Wasn't that a big concern for the YF-23? I seem to recall a concern being voiced by the USAF concerning that arrangement jamming. In any case, I can't wait for the F-35 to get 6 AMRAAM's.

Different context than with the YF-23 layout. The F-35 uses a horizontal layout vs vertical.

[elvis1]

Looks like "stacking" could be diagonal to take advantage of the depth of the bay designed for larger diameter ordinance (a cross between side-by-side and above-and-below). The ejection mechanisms could both be ejecting in the same direction more or less side-by-side (but stair-stepped relative to one another in elevation--or like Olympic medal podium if looking at all three missiles). The mechanisms would not interfere with one another and prevent jamming, but release would need to be sequenced.

[elvis1]

This may be a place to start: viewtopic.php?f=54&t=53327&p=381386&hilit=krjS7f9T760#p381386
&
download/file.php?id=25937

At least that is what I see in the picture spazsinbad posted.