F-35A Joint Strike Fighter straps on its missiles
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A close look at the Raytheon AIM-9X Sidewinder missile (Photo: Raytheon)
The U.S. Air Force's F-35A Joint Strike Fighter has made a successful test flight equipped with an external weapons load (Photo: Paul Weatherman at Lockheed-Martin)
A closeup of a Raytheon AIM-9X Sidewinder mounted on the outward weapons pylon of the F-35A (Photo: Lockheed-Martin)
A F-35A JSF hangared with a full weapons load (Photo: Lockheed-Martin)
The first two F-35A fighters being delivered to the Air Force at Edwards AFB (Photo: David Drais at Lockheed-Martin)
An F-35A Joint Strike Fighter with an external weapons load (Photo: Paul Weatherman at Lockheed-Martin)
Article Summary
The F-35A is the conventional takeoff and landing version of the Joint Strike Fighter, intended primarily for the U.S. Air Force short range fighter role. These single-seat single-engine fifth-generation fighters are designed to carry out air defense, ground attack, and recon missions. February 16, 2012 marked the first flight of the F-35A carrying an external load of two Raytheon AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles. The F-35A also had four additional weapons pylons attached each of which can carry 2000-pound air-to-ground weapons.
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