An F-35A has completed the Joint Strike Fighter program’s first inflight refuelling while configured with external weapons.
The April 21 flight from Edwards Air Force base saw F-35A AF-4 refuel from a KC-10 tanker while carrying two inert AIM-9X missiles externally and two JDAM guided bombs and AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles internally.
“The two-hour mission tested the flying qualities of the aircraft while manoeuvring with external weapons,” Lockheed Martin said. “This test paves the way for weapons separation testing later this year.”
