Block 3F weapons as of September 2017
https://twitter.com/Oriana0214/status/9 ... 2582010881
This chart from the Defense News Conference is the latest (and very likely final) chart showing us what weapons have been / are being certified with Block 3F - most of it's old news, but there's a few items that weren't known to me previously:
All 3 variants get external AIM-9X, GBU-12/49/51, internal AIM-120C-5/7/D AMRAAM, GBU-12/49/51.
F-35A & F-35C get GBU-31 (Mk-84 and BLU-109) JDAMs.
F-35B & F-35C get gun pod and GBU-32 (Mk-83 and BLU-110) JDAMs.
F-35A gets internal gun and GBU-39 SDB-1.
F-35C gets AGM-154C / AGM-154C-1 JSOW.
So:
1. The jets are indeed getting the AIM-120D with Block 3F.
2. The F-35C will be able to use both 1000lb and 2000lb JDAMs (curious, but I suppose it aids flexibility when you have limited munitions aboard a carrier).
3. Only the F-35A gets the SDB, the Marines and Navy are waiting for Block 4 / SDB-II it seems.
4. The F-35C gets the AGM-154C-1 straight off the bat; the C-1 adds a 2-way Link 16 datalink for increasing its effectiveness against moving targets.
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I think someone was playing fast & loose with that chart. AGM-154C-1 is clearly part of Block 4 and unless it contains a "C" mode (ie cannot use enhanced "C-1" capabilities), I think it's a mistake. Same goes for the AIM-120D as it just went IOC a couple of years ago, much too late to get into 3F.
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talkitron wrote:This chart has the possible implication that the weapons fits of the three models might continue to diverge into block 4. Maybe the F-35B gets Meteor for UK use but then maybe F-35A will not get Meteor, which will hurt Meteor sales.
There's no way European countries buying the F-35 would accept that.
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sunstersun wrote:talkitron wrote:This chart has the possible implication that the weapons fits of the three models might continue to diverge into block 4. Maybe the F-35B gets Meteor for UK use but then maybe F-35A will not get Meteor, which will hurt Meteor sales.
There's no way European countries buying the F-35 would accept that.
Very few have bought Meteor. Why would they care?
talkitron wrote:This chart has the possible implication that the weapons fits of the three models might continue to diverge into block 4. Maybe the F-35B gets Meteor for UK use but then maybe F-35A will not get Meteor, which will hurt Meteor sales.
I don't think thats accurate.
Whats the point of the F-35 if one varaint doesn't open up options for other variants?
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Every F-35 at the same BLock is running the same exact software package. Options (like STOVL, crypto, & IFF) will enable/disable depending on what version & country it's flying for.
The only reason why some versions have a weapon and others do not at a certain Block is more to due with service needs & time frame (1k JDAM not on F-35A Blk3F) or hardware (no SDB on B/C at 3F).
The only reason why some versions have a weapon and others do not at a certain Block is more to due with service needs & time frame (1k JDAM not on F-35A Blk3F) or hardware (no SDB on B/C at 3F).
"The early bird gets the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese."
I think the software for the weapons integration will work for all variants, but it's possible they won't do the integration and separation tests (weapon separation, especially from internal bays, being a surprisingly interesting problem) and certification for all models. My guess is they only do those for what's being paid for, e.g. if the UK wants ASRAAM for their B models they'll fund the testing for the B models, but probably not the A or C.
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I noticed seeing the new Fast Facts.
https://a855196877272cb14560-2a4fa819a6 ... 0001800331
It includes AIM-120D! (It was not included in the earlier Fast Facts.)
https://a855196877272cb14560-2a4fa819a6 ... 0001800331
It includes AIM-120D! (It was not included in the earlier Fast Facts.)
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I find it interesting that the F-22 can launch the AIM-9X from its weapons bay but the weapon is not cued with an HMD for off boresight targeting. The F-35 is in the opposite situation. It has an HMD but cannot launch the AIM-9X in low observability mode.
Surely cost and engineering issues are in play. But I wonder if the threat changed and American air superiority was threatened that those two capabilities would be added rather quickly.
Surely cost and engineering issues are in play. But I wonder if the threat changed and American air superiority was threatened that those two capabilities would be added rather quickly.
The F-22's getting a HMD in the next few years; as for the F-35, I'm a bit doubtful - the AIM-9X would be good against LO targets, but any time you put an AIM-9 into an F-35, you're taking an AIM-120 out, taking away an opportunity to engage a target at a safe beyond visual range.
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Dragon029 wrote:The F-22's getting a HMD in the next few years; as for the F-35, I'm a bit doubtful - the AIM-9X would be good against LO targets, but any time you put an AIM-9 into an F-35, you're taking an AIM-120 out, taking away an opportunity to engage a target at a safe beyond visual range.
The AIM-9X can only be externally mounted on the F-35.
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