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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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?

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).

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.

I noticed seeing the new Fast Facts.
https://a855196877272cb14560-2a4fa819a6 ... 0001800331
It includes AIM-120D! (It was not included in the earlier Fast Facts.)

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

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.

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 F-22's getting a HMD in the next few years

It's about time...

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.

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