Tri-Service
F-35A Completes First Aerial Gun Firing Test
The F-35A Lightning II has fired the first airborne gunfire bursts from its internal Gatling gun system during a California test flight.
F-35 test pilot Maj Charles "Flak" Trickey fired three bursts, one of 30 rounds and two of 60 rounds, from the aircraft’s four-barrel, 25mm gun, which is hidden behind closed doors until the trigger is pulled to reduce radar cross section.
The goal was to evaluate the gun’s performance, as well as its integration with the airframe during airborne gunfire. Mike Glass, Edwards ITF flight test director, said:
“The successful aerial gun test sortie was a culmination of several years’ planning."
“The results of this testing will be used in future blocks of testing, where the accuracy and mission effectiveness capabilities will be evaluated.”
The gun will provide pilots with the ability to engage air-to-ground and air-to-air targets, in addition to beyond visual range air-to-air missiles and precision-guided air-to-ground weapons.
More from Forces TV:F-35 Loses Dogfight To Jet From The 1970s
It will eventually be integrated with the F-35A’s sensor fusion software, which will provide targeting information to the pilot through the helmet-mounted display.
At the end of the program’s system development and demonstration phase in 2017, the F-35 will have an operational gun.
Related topics
Join Our Newsletter
