The F-35 strengthens national security, bolsters global partnerships and powers economic growth. It is the world’s most lethal, survivable and connected fighter jet.
But it isn’t without its challenges. Several problems have plagued the program. One was serious enough that two partners threatened to leave the program, documents show.
AIM-120C/D
The F-35 is one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world, with only its sibling, the F-22 Raptor, being more sophisticated. However, the jet has some significant shortcomings that limit its overall firepower and ability to engage adversaries at longer ranges. The Pentagon is working to fix this, and one of the ways it plans to do so is by adding a new air-to-air missile that will give the F-35 a greater attack radius.
The AIM-120C/D is a successor to the AIM-9 Sidewinder, an air-to-air missile that first saw action in the 1950s and is still in use today. The missile is designed to intercept enemy aircraft at medium range, and it does so by using active radar guidance. In addition to the active radar sensor, the AIM-120C/D has a GPS-enhanced inertial reference unit for more accurate navigation.
With a maximum range of around 2,800 kilometers, the AIM-120C/D can reach most enemy aircraft at least once before being shot down. It is also capable of a number of secondary missions such as attacking surface targets or engaging air-to-surface platforms.
Currently, the F-35 can carry two AIM-120Cs and four Sidewinders on its external weapons pylons when not operating in stealth mode. This gives the F-35 a total of 22,000 pounds of weaponry on board, which is enough for most missions. However, if the need arises, the F-35 can reconfigure into “Beast Mode,” which allows it to carry more than double this amount of ordinance, including 14 AIM-120Ds.
A plethora of battlefield sensors and data sharing will soon allow American and allied pilots to shoot down adversaries, even when they are outnumbered. This trend is accelerating, with Lockheed Martin already developing a long-range AIM-261 Cuda missile that would replace the two medium-range AMRAAMs carried internally on the F-35.
The US government needs to be careful not to turn the F-35 into a budget-busting boondoggle like its predecessor, the F-22 Raptor. Sandboxx News has covered some of the poor decisions that have contributed to this in the past, including giving Lockheed Martin an effective monopoly on aircraft design and production and beginning production before the jet was ready for testing.
AIM-9X
The AIM-9X is an upgraded version of the short-range AIM-9M Sidewinder air-to-air missile, which was designed to provide fighter pilots with first shot, first kill opportunities during maneuvering battles over the visual range. It provides the Navy and its 31 Foreign Military Sales partner nations with the capability to acquire, track and destroy a variety of airborne threats that use passive infrared (IR) countermeasures.
The Block 4 upgrade will add a number of features to the AIM-9X, including an improved arming and firing device, a new guidance section with enhanced warhead control, a new munitions datalink and a new CAS (Crash Avoidance System). Its external shape is similar to the original Sidewinder, but it sports a more compact launch tube, enabling eight of the missiles to fit inside the F-35’s confined weapons bays. Alternatively, it can be stored externally if stealth is not a concern.
Its seeker design also expands the AIM-9X’s view of targets, allowing it to locate threats that are off boresight of the launching fighter. A redesigned fuze and digital ignition safety device improve the missile’s ground handling and in-flight safety.
A redesigned inertial measurement unit and a new software suite will reduce the AIM-9X’s acquisition time. The contractor delivered solutions to these issues in January 2014, and the program re-entered operational testing in June of that year.
Eventually, the AIM-9X will replace the AMRAAM and Sidewinder missiles in the F-35’s weapon bays. It will be compatible with the Navy’s F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet, as well as the Air Force’s F-15C Eagle and F-16 Falcon and their international counterparts. The AIM-9X is also backward compatible with aircraft/launchers using analog communication signals.
The longer-range Peregrine and Cuda missiles being developed by Lockheed Martin will replace the short-range Sidewinder and AMRAAM, respectively, enabling the F-35 to attack at much farther distances. This will enable American and allied forces to fight and win at ranges where the adversaries are outnumbered. However, the Pentagon’s infamously childishly short attention span and totally out-of-whack list of priorities has handicapped the F-35, which is already being pushed to the margins by fourth-generation fighters.
AIM-120B
The AIM-120 is a popular air-to-air missile that is used by a variety of aircraft. This includes the AV-8B Harrier II, F-15 Eagle, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F/A-18 Hornet, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, and the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. The AIM-120 also has a number of variants including the AIM-120C, AIM-120D, and AIM-120A AMRAAM-ER. The AIM-120A AMRAAM-ER is a long-range version that is capable of attacking air and ground targets. It can be fired from the NASAMS launcher on the F-35A, F-35B, and F-35C.
The AMRAAM-ER has a range of up to 1,500 kilometers, which makes it ideal for penetrating contested airspace and destroying ground or aerial targets at long distances. The AMRAAM-ER has a stealthy body, reducing its radar cross-section and making it less likely to be detected by hostile radar systems. This is especially important since the F-35 is designed to operate in contested environments, where stealthiness is crucial.
While the F-35 is capable of carrying AMRAAMs on external weapons pylons, it would be much more beneficial to have the capability to carry them internally. This would allow the F-35 to deploy more firepower without compromising its stealthy profile. In addition, it would allow the F-35 to use its internal storage for additional ammunition or mission equipment.
In fact, there are a few indications that the F-35 will eventually be able to carry internal AMRAAMs. For one, the Canadian government recently confirmed that its 88 F-35As will be equipped with Sidekick integration. This is a significant milestone, as Canada will be the first country to deploy the F-35 with this feature.
The F-35 is a multi-role fighter jet that can perform a variety of missions, from air defense to anti-ship warfare. It is currently undergoing flight testing at the Eglin Gulf Test Range in Florida and at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. It is also undergoing operational testing in simulated war scenarios with Air Force and Navy aircraft. During these tests, the F-35 has demonstrated its ability to defeat air and surface threats with precision strikes.
AIM-120D
The AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) is a sophisticated, long-range air-to-air missile that is a standard weapon on the F-35. The AMRAAM is capable of engaging a variety of targets, including enemy aircraft and cruise missiles, at beyond visual range. It is a versatile, all-weather missile that can be launched from any surface-based platform.
The AMRAAM has been in use since 1991 and has undergone many upgrades over the years. It is currently the only radar-guided air-to-air missile that is cleared to fly on the F-35. The AMRAAM has also been integrated onto the F-15A/B/C/D Eagle/Strike Eagle, F/A-18 Super Hornet, F-22 Raptor, and Eurofighter Typhoon.
A new version of the AMRAAM called the AIM-120D is in development. It offers several improvements over the original model, including a two-way data link, improved navigation using GPS-enhanced Inertial Measurement Units, an expanded no-escape envelope, and increased HOBS (High-Angle Off-Boresight) capabilities.
In addition, the AIM-120D can track multiple targets simultaneously and fire several missiles at a single target, which is useful for attacking large, complex targets. Its active radar homing capability allows it to break a radar lock and guide itself to the target, and its passive avionics can also detect jamming signals. This feature is especially useful in cluttered environments where jammers are commonly used to degrade BVR engagements.
It is also important to note that the AMRAAM’s stealth technology will help it avoid detection by enemy radar systems. This is a key benefit that will allow the jet to operate in the most dangerous threat environments. The AIM-120D is expected to be fielded in 2022.
A recent mishap involving an F-35A has drawn international attention, and the Pentagon is continuing to investigate what happened. The incident has highlighted the need for the U.S. and its allied nations to work together to ensure the F-35 is safe and reliable. The jet is set to replace the aging fleets of F-16 Fighting Falcons and A-10 Thunderbolt II’s, but it will also bring new capabilities to the fight against modern threats. It will also include state-of-the-art tactical data links to support Coalition interoperability.
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