Block 3F weapons as of September 2017

Dragon029 · by **Dragon029** » 08 Sep 2017, 04:21

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.

SpudmanWP · by **SpudmanWP** » 08 Sep 2017, 05:14

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.

talkitron · by **talkitron** » 09 Sep 2017, 00:39

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.

sunstersun · by **sunstersun** » 09 Sep 2017, 02:07

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.

bigjku · by **bigjku** » 09 Sep 2017, 03:21

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?

XanderCrews · by **XanderCrews** » 09 Sep 2017, 04:13

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?

SpudmanWP · by **SpudmanWP** » 09 Sep 2017, 05:36

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).

rheonomic · by **rheonomic** » 09 Sep 2017, 05:37

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.

doge · by **doge** » 26 Jan 2018, 15:04

I noticed seeing the new Fast Facts.
https://a855196877272cb14560-2a4fa819a6 ... 0001800331
It includes AIM-120D!

(It was not included in the earlier Fast Facts.)

SpudmanWP · by **SpudmanWP** » 26 Jan 2018, 16:48

That's likely a misprint as the D has not shown up in any other documentation, especially the DOT&E report.

blain · by **blain** » 27 Jan 2018, 00:55

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.

Dragon029 · by **Dragon029** » 27 Jan 2018, 01:51

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.

rheonomic · by **rheonomic** » 27 Jan 2018, 02:31

Dragon029 wrote:The F-22's getting a HMD in the next few years

It's about time...

cheese_e · by **cheese_e** » 04 Feb 2018, 05:58

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.

rheonomic · by **rheonomic** » 04 Feb 2018, 06:29

I think Dragon029 is referring to internal carriage in a notional future block upgrade there.