F-35B First Aerial Weapons Release

Courtesy U.S. Navy - Naval Air Systems Command -- On Aug. 8, an F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter test aircraft completed the program's first aerial weapons release. The aircraft (BF-3) dropped an inert 1,000-pound GBU-32 Joint Direct Attack Munition over an Atlantic test range from an internal weapons bay. Internal weapons carriage allows the F-35 to maintain a low-observable profile when combat loaded. The F-35B is a short take-off and vertical landing-capable fighter aircraft, designed for use by the U.S. Marine Corps as well as defense partners in the United Kingdom and Italy.