F-35A Gatling gun system passes first aerial firing test: The first aerial test of the F-35A's internal 25mm Gatling gun system has been successfully completed, Lockheed Martin reports.
The Oct. 30 test flight conducted in California was the first in a series to functionally evaluate in-flight operations of the F-35A variant and a major event in certifying the Gun Airborne Unit--22/A Gatling gun for use on the aircraft.
"The successful aerial gun test sortie was a culmination of several years' planning, which intensified in the first half of 2015 at the Edwards (Air Force Base) F-35 Integrated Test Force Flight Test Squadron with a team of Air Force, Lockheed Martin, Pratt & Whitney, General Dynamics, and Northrop Grumman personnel," said Mike Glass, Edwards ITF flight test director.
"The results of this testing will be used in future blocks of testing, where the accuracy and mission effectiveness capabilities will be evaluated."
