F-35A stealth fighter drops mock nuclear bomb in flight test

So Australia can be made nuke capable and quite prickly in a very short space of time?

Interesting.

As can Japan, or Taiwan.

[link to newatlas.com (secure)]

Two major US defense initiatives recently came together as a US Air Force F-35A Lightning II dropped a mock refurbished B61-12 nuclear bomb for the first time. The test, which took place over Sandia National Laboratories' Tonopah Test Range in Nevada on August 25, saw the 5th-generation fighter release the bomb from an internal bay while flying at supersonic speed.

The F-35 has been garnering a lot of attention as it moves to full deployment after almost two decades of development. Its well-known qualities of stealth, advanced sensors, supersonic speed, and network-ability make it as much a command center as a fighter plane, but it is still first and foremost a weapon system designed to deliver ordnance on target.

The recent flight test mated the F-35 with a lesser known US weapons program, the B61-12 air-launched gravity nuclear bomb. Weighing in at 825 lb (374 kg) and with an explosive yield of between 0.3 and 50 kilotons, it's the latest variant of the B61 family of bombs that was fielded in 1968. Since then, it has flown on the B-2A bomber, F-15 and F-16 fighters, and the Panavia Tornado.

However, the US stockpile of these nuclear bombs is aging and Sandia has been tasked with helping to extend their service life by 20 years while making them more secure and more reliable. Sandia provides non-nuclear component development and acts as technical integrator for the complete weapon to make sure it works on the intended platforms

What is the purpose of making it spin?

What is the purpose of making it spin?

The F35 is pretty cool, it's like a B2/F22 hybrid.

The F35 is pretty cool, it's like a B2/F22 hybrid.

Baltimore ...Chicago...

No JK I think it will be China or Iran!

Wheres the next Antifa meet and greet happening?

I missed that, but the timing of this test is certainly concerning, to say the least!

But can it blast hardbass?

F35 is space capable no? max alt of S400 35-40k ft..

No, the F-35 is not space capable, whatever that means.

The engine breathes air.

nitrous and momentum.plus a little something.