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U.S. Air Force conducts F-35 weapons tests

Service's Integrated Test Force recently completed 25 missions as part of weapons test firing surge.

By Geoff Ziezulewicz
The U.S. Air Force recently completed a monthlong weapons firing test surge for the F-35 Lightning II aircraft, the service announced Monday. U.S. Air Force photo
The U.S. Air Force recently completed a monthlong weapons firing test surge for the F-35 Lightning II aircraft, the service announced Monday. U.S. Air Force photo

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., Aug. 30 (UPI) -- The U.S. Air Force recently completed a monthlong weapons firing test surge for the F-35 Lightning II aircraft, the service announced Monday.

The tests involved 25 missions including 12 weapons delivery accuracy and 13 weapon separation tests, the Air Force said in a statement.

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The final mission on Aug. 17 involved jets shooting two advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles at a drone, the finale of 30 weapons deployed from the aircraft in 31 days, a rate the service said is unprecedented for test flights.

Weapons dropped or fired included the joint direct attack munition, the AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missile, GPS-guided 250-pound small diameter bombs, AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles and GPS laser-guided munitions.

The test events featured the F-35's newest block 3F software.

Tests were conducted in a Pacific Ocean test area off the California coast, as well as at the Navy's China Lake weapons range and the White Sands Missile Range.

The F-35 is a multirole, next-generation fighter that combines advanced stealth with speed, agility and a 360-degree battlespace view.

The Marine Corps declared the F-35B combat ready in July 2015, while the Air Force's F-35A achieved initial operating capability earlier this month.

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The Navy intends to attain F-35C initial operating capability in 2018, the Air Force said.

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