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The F-35 Can't Use (Some Of) Its Bombs, Either
 "The news about the F-35's inadequacies keeps rolling in. A month ago, we learned that software problems meant that the F-35 wouldn't be able to fire its gun for the first few years it is in service. Now, it turns out it won't be able to use a bomb critically useful for close air support (CAS) missions until 2022. Military.com reports:F-35 Joint Strike Fighter pilots will have to wait until 2022 to fire the U.S. military's top close-air-support bomb after the Small Diameter Bomb II enters service in 2017, JSF officials explained. The Small Diameter Bomb II (SDB II) is an upgrade from previous precision-guided air-dropped weapons because of its ability to track and hit moving targets from up to 40 miles. However, the F-35 will not have the software package required to operate the bomb loaded onto the fifth generation fighter until 2022, officials said." A camel is a horse designed by committee. Posted by: Hupineger Glomomp52169 2015-03-17 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=413022 |