USAF’s F-35A Undergoing Tests With New B61-12 Nuclear Weapon Written 25 June 2020
F-35A with weapon bay doors open. | U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alexander Cook; Wikipedia; public domain
Aviation International News reports that on June 22, F-35 Joint Program Office released photographs that show the US Air Force’s F-35A “has been undergoing Dual Capable Aircraft (DCA) tests,” which allow the aircraft to deliver conventional and nuclear weapons. The F-35A “is expected to introduce its DCA capability in early 2023 with the Block 4 software upgrade.” The F-35A is being certified to carry the B61-12 nuclear weapon, which is “in the early stages of production.” The B61-12, which is the first in the B61 series to have GPS guidance capability, is in the process of being certified for the USAF’s F-15E, F-16C, F-35A, and B-2A. It also “is expected to arm” the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider “and possibly the Panavia Tornados of Germany and Italy.”
Full Story (Aviation International News)