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Lockheed tests latest F-35 Lightning

Lockheed Martin tests its stealth F-35 Lightning II over the skies of Texas (Photo: Lockheed Martin)
Lockheed Martin tests its stealth F-35 Lightning II over the skies of Texas (Photo: Lockheed Martin)

FORT WORTH, Texas, April 22 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin announced the successful test of the weapons suite on its supersonic stealth F-35 Lightning II aircraft over a U.S. Navy base in Texas.

Lockheed said it flew its seventh F-35 Lightning II flight test aircraft for about an hour over Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base in Texas.

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The defense company said the primary objective of the flight was to validate the weapons suite on the F-35.

"This aircraft is configured to test and verify the multiple weapons loads that will deliver fifth-generation combat capability to the warfighter," said F-35 program manager James Sandstrom.

The F-35 is the first in the series to have an internal, four-barrel Gatling gun installed. The 25mm gun system can fire 3,000 rounds per minute.

Testing consisted of gun vibration, acoustic and recoil load analysis.

Lockheed said the F-35 Lightning II combines stealth technology with speeds of up to Mach 1.6 to enhance warfighter capabilities at lower operational and support costs.

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