Forum: Program and politics

SpudmanWP wrote:

fap?

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=fap

Laughing

It's using the same gun as the Harrier and is a more accurate and deadlier gun than the 20mm ones on F-15, F-16, F-22, etc.

SpudmanWP wrote:

It's using the same gun as the Harrier and is a more accurate and deadlier gun than the 20mm ones on F-15, F-16, F-22, etc.

Actually, the F-35 uses the GAU-22/A, a four-barrel variant of the five-barrel GAU-12/U used by the AV-8B Harrier, AC-13U Spectre and LAV-AD ground vehicle. The GAU-22/A is lighter and purportedly more accurate than GAU-12/U.

The 25mm round is longer ranged and harder hitting, but the gun has a lower RoF than the Vulcan cannon. This makes the gun a great choice for air-to-ground work, but it is not as strong for air-to-air work against a hard maneuvering targets, where RoF is the dominant characteristic. All around, the GAU-22/A is a solid choice for F-35.

-- Shaken - out --

Same round, that's what I meant.... thanks

btw, the USAF is working of laser-guided A2A rounds.... ROF would no longer be an issue.

SpudmanWP wrote:

btw, the USAF is working of laser-guided A2A rounds.... ROF would no longer be an issue.

Laser guided rounds would be nifty, but I'm not holding my breath. There have been a LOT of programs to make guided gun rounds of all sorts and precious few were successful. Do you have any link discussing this program? I'm curious about how they plan to power the rounds!

-- Shaken - out --

Start on page 18 of this PDF. They have been working on this for over 10 years.

http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2009gunmissile/7946.pdf

SpudmanWP wrote:

Start on page 18 of this PDF. They have been working on this for over 10 years.

Cool stuff. Thank you!

There is a new and updated Fast Facts for April 19th.

Original location here.

Items of interest:

• Software development is on schedule, more than 70 percent complete.
• First Flight Readiness Review shows F-35B is ready to proceed with STOVL flight testing.
• Final modification period for STOVL-mode flight complete.
• First F-35 variant equipped with mission systems, BF-4, rolled out of the factory Jan. 21; will lead to the first avionics testing on board an F-35 aircraft. Expected first flight is Summer 2009.
• Aerial testing of F-35 Communications-Navigation-Identification system completed in half the time planned on CATBird.
• Carrier variant (CV) F-35C first flight in 2009.
.

Where's BF-3?

BF-3 is a loads aircraft and will go though extensive ground testing before flying.

O rly?

According to the January milestones document it was to fly a month after BF-4.

underhill, BF-3 is all dirtied up here: http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-d ... f-35b.html

"This is what the F-35B looks like with a full load of external weapons, including the 25mm gun pod mounted on the belly. Lockheed Martin released this photo today of the BF-3 prototype, which is now in ground vibration testing. Meanwhile, the BF-1 prototype is expected to return to flight after a very long hiatus "at any minute" today, Lockheed says."

Last edited by spazsinbad on Sep 24, 2009 - 03:49 AM; edited 1 time in total

JSF brief PDF 8Mbs

Keith P. Knotts F-35 International Business Development Canada and United Kingdom 7 May 2009

http://www.manitoba-aerospace.mb.ca/MAA ... martin.pdf

OOPS - on page 2 as Spudman indicates below. Embarassed

Thanks for contributing, but we had it on page 2.

http://www.f-16.net/index.php?name=PNph ... 096#154096

Forum: Program and politics

F-35 Program Docs