F-35B Lightning (RAF & RN)

[ArmChairCivvy]

They will be (?) filled with concrete, in order not to adversely affect the plane's aerodynamics...in our case

[Ron5]

Sorry but concrete won't match the weight distribution exactly enough. The RAF will have to order the guns out of the T26 budget. No ammunition tho.

[arfah]

...................

[cockneyjock1974]

Not watched this myself (too busy)

F35B test pilot chats at Farnborough 2016

http://www.janes.com/article/62452/farn ... operations

Good spot Arfah, cheers.

[Dahedd]

Very interesting little video. With regards to the mention of the Italian carriers do they have personnel over at Yuma mixed in with the UK/USMC operation ?

[Geoff_B]

we have barely got the orders in for the first 14 aircraft yet so Gun pods are not likely to be ordered till the larger orders are placed especially as the gun pods still in testing and integration phase. I wouldn't worry about it just yet

[Geoff_B]

Not watched this myself (too busy)

F35B test pilot chats at Farnborough 2016

http://www.janes.com/article/62452/farn ... operations

Yeap its quite interesting little video that Arfah.

Regarding the Italian Navy he seemed to imply testing with the Italian Carrier will be sometime after the both QEC carrier trials.

Interesting bit about future users on their carriers, wondering if they are thinking of Spain and possibly Japan (?), as the Australians appeared to have cooled their heels on a possible F-35B buy for their Canberra class.

[The Armchair Soldier]

Video of the gunpod being tested:

[bobp]

Nice video thanks for sharing. 220 rounds capacity made a mess of the target in just a couple of secs.

[Ron5]

Dispersion looks crap. No doubt due to the wibbly wobbly pod mounting.

[Dahedd]

Surely in these days you don't wanted dispersion all over the place. Too much potential for collateral damage. I'd have thought accuracy was key.

[bobp]

I see your point about dispersion after watching the video a second time. The plane was solid enough whist the gun was firing. The second target what was the range from the gun because a few of the shots were way off.

[Gabriele]

Dispersion is nothing new and cannot be eliminated. The requirement is 5 milliradians, 80% circle. A-10 levels of accuracy, on a faster, nimbler firing platform. That still means that the rounds get spread on several meters... and that up to 20% of the rounds go even further out of target. The gun is accurate, but only so much.

The M61 Vulcan is an 8 milliradians system, with more dispersion.

[Ron5]

Dispersion is nothing new and cannot be eliminated. The requirement is 5 milliradians, 80% circle. A-10 levels of accuracy, on a faster, nimbler firing platform. That still means that the rounds get spread on several meters... and that up to 20% of the rounds go even further out of target. The gun is accurate, but only so much.

The M61 Vulcan is an 8 milliradians system, with more dispersion.

I think you're quoting dispersion targets for the gun. Not the gun in a pod hung off an aircraft.

Podded guns are notoriously inaccurate and the video shows it.

[R686]

Interesting bit about future users on their carriers, wondering if they are thinking of Spain and possibly Japan (?), as the Australians appeared to have cooled their heels on a possible F-35B buy for their Canberra class.

Give it a few years and I suspect it will come up again along with the need for either a third LHD or a carrier with secondary amphibious assualt capabilty, as we have not really solved the long range strike capabilty lost with the F111 and time will show that a third flattop will be needed as we saw how hard the old LPA's were worked

[bobp]

Interesting article about F35 stealth..
http://www.defensenews.com/story/milita ... /87760454/

[SDL]

dunno if this is exactly the right thread for this, but the 'A' has officially reached IOC. one down, two to go.

[Aethulwulf]

The US Marines declared IOC with the B last year. So it's two down, one to go.

[Pseudo]

Never mind. Mis-read the post.

[SDL]

Oops.... teaches me to try and multitask again in the future...

[Aethulwulf]

To be fair, the UK is not due to reach IOC with the B for a couple of years yet...

[Gabriele]

Kind of inevitable due to purchase rhythm, number of personnel trained and the fact that british weaponry is integrated with the 3F software.

[bobp]

Heres a link to the news that the F35A is ready.....http://www.defensenews.com/story/breaki ... /87948142/

[ArmChairCivvy]

I've sort of lost interest in the "C"... one nation using (and the Navy never seemed overenthusiastic); but anyway, any news?

[bobp]

I've sort of lost interest in the "C"... one nation using (and the Navy never seemed overenthusiastic); but anyway, any news?

The C has seemingly now got a working arrestor hook and as far as I know they are going to do some more sea trials with it. I believe the last one was fairly successful. Production wise only one or two on order.