Air Force Completes First F-35 In-flight Release of JDAM Missile

An F-35A conventional takeoff and landing aircraft has completed its first in-flight weapons release of a 2,000lbs GBU-31 BLU-109 joint direct attack munition (Picture of Event on Right).

According to an Air Force release, a 5th generation fighter was used for the test conducted at Edwards Air Force base in California, on October 16.

The F-35A 5th generation fighter was created to carry a maximum load of 18,000 lbs with 10 weapon stations.

It also has four internal weapon stations in two weapon bays to maximize stealth capability.

The aircraft can also use an extra three external weapon stations for each wing, if necessary.

The Air Force’s Major Eric Schultz conducted the flight, with the AF-1 aircraft jettison an instrumented GBU-31 over the China Lake test range from the left internal weapons bay.

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