Per Naval Air Systems Command:
"The milestone marks the start of validating the F-35's capability to employ precision weapons and allow pilots to engage the enemy on the ground and in the air ... An aerial weapons separation test checks for proper release of the weapon from its carriage system and trajectory away from the aircraft. It is the culmination of a significant number of prerequisite tests, including ground fit checks, ground pit drops and aerial captive carriage and environment flights to ensure the system is working properly before expanding the test envelope in the air."
Nice.
@Graff48099375
Not exactly stealthy with the missile under the wingtip and whatever the clunky thing is under the
ReplyDeletewingroot... which is one of the conundrums of the
short legged F35: the internal bay that makes it stealthy doesn't hold much.