On Memorial Day 2019 on board the U.S. Aircraft Carrier WASP president Trump announced America is sending 105 U.S. F-35 all-weather stealth multirole fighter aircraft to Japan as part of the forward defense of America and Japan. The F-35 has a maximum speed of over Mach 1.6. with a maximum takeoff weight of 60,000 lb. China will be watching.
The F-35A is armed with a GAU-22/A, a four-barrel version of the 25 mm GAU-1 Equalizer cannon. The cannon is mounted internally with 182 rounds for the F-35A or in an external pod with 220 rounds for the F-35B and F-35C; the gun pod has stealth features. The software that enables operational firing of the cannon is expected to be installed by 2018.
The F-35 has external hardpoints to carry missiles, bombs, and drop tanks at the expense of increased radar cross-section, and thus reduced stealth. These include four underwing pylons that can carry the AIM-120 AMRAAM BVR AAM, AGM-158 Joint Air to Surface Stand-off Missile (JASSM) cruise missile, and guided bombs; and two near-wingtip pylons for the AIM-9X Sidewinder and AIM-132 ASRAAM short-range air-to-air missiles (AAM). These babies rock!!
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