On Dec. 3, an F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter test aircraft completed the program's first aerial weapons release of an inert 500-pound GBU-12 Paveway II Laser Guided Bomb. The aircraft (BF-3) dropped an inert GBU-12 over the Atlantic Test Ranges from an internal weapons bay. The internal weapons carriage allows the F-35 to maintain a low-observable profile when combat loaded. The F-35B is a short take-off and vertical landing-capable fighter aircraft, designed for use by the U.S. Marine Corps as well as defense partners in the United Kingdom and Italy.
From the way that thing comes out, I'd hazard a guess they were being really conservative and made sure the first ejection really was nose down to clear the plane. They'll either keep it that way because they know it works, or perhaps dial back the pressure on the forward ejector in later drops. The bobble after ejection is typical LGB "bang-bang" control system behavior. I predict someone somewhere will comment about how scary it looked.
ReplyDeleteI slowed down the video playback a lot (to x0.06 playback on VLC) and it looks like the initial entry into the slipstream yanks the GBU out at an even sharper angle due to the relative light weight of the GBU.
ReplyDeleteI don't see this an an issue as the IMU & gravity will keep it from pitching back up.
To clarify, I'm only intimating the testers were likely just being prudent. That Paveway probably has some of the tightest fore-aft bay tolerances the B model plans to carry. Even with a good 6DOf prediction, there's always an unknown or two until you actually do the deed.
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