F-35 Conducts First External Weapons Release

For the first time, an F-35 released an external weapon from its wings during a Sept. 23 test.

The Navy F-35C carrier variant released four 500-pound GBU-12 laser guided inert bombs from its wings during consecutive test runs over the Atlantic Test Range, according to an Oct. 2 statement from the joint program office. All four weapons separations were successful.

The test flight demonstrated the F-35's future capability to release multiple weapons on a single pass, according to the statement.

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