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It is not a secret that the F-35A, the CTOL (Convetional Take Off and Landing) variant of the Lightning II aircraft, will be dual capable aircraft (DCA), meaning that it will have the ability to deliver nuclear ordnance as well as conventional weapons. Such dual capability is expected to be included in the Block 4 software release, with initial capability for the B61-12 weapon. Although the F-35A DCA is scheduled to achieve nuclear certification in January, 2023, testing at the 461st FLTS, the test squadron that oversees developmental testing of all variants of the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II at Edwards Air Force Base, California, has started in 2019.
Images just released by the F-35 Joint Program Office (the Department of Defense’s agency responsible for developing and acquiring the F-35A/B/C) show various drop tests of inert nuclear bombs between 2019 and 2020.
originally posted by: Forensick
originally posted by: CharlesT
a reply to: Zaphod58
only around 400
Only 400 nuclear bombs?! You dont carpet bomb these things!
originally posted by: mightmight
a reply to: face23785
After using the first dozen it really doesn't matter how many you've left.
Nuclear gravity bombs are an outdated concept. The B61-12 should have been canceled in favor of the LRSO, or even better, a nuclear variant of the JASSM-XR.
originally posted by: face23785
originally posted by: Forensick
originally posted by: CharlesT
a reply to: Zaphod58
only around 400
Only 400 nuclear bombs?! You dont carpet bomb these things!
They're a variable-yield weapon. They can be used for tactical bombing. They're not necessarily intended to do 400 Hiroshimas.
You also may need to deploy them to different places at once, depending on circumstances.
And bombs also need maintenance, so you need enough to rotate in and out of service.
All those things contribute to a legitimate need for a few hundred of them.
originally posted by: Forensick
originally posted by: face23785
originally posted by: Forensick
originally posted by: CharlesT
a reply to: Zaphod58
only around 400
Only 400 nuclear bombs?! You dont carpet bomb these things!
They're a variable-yield weapon. They can be used for tactical bombing. They're not necessarily intended to do 400 Hiroshimas.
You also may need to deploy them to different places at once, depending on circumstances.
And bombs also need maintenance, so you need enough to rotate in and out of service.
All those things contribute to a legitimate need for a few hundred of them.
I am not sure carpet bombing is tactical however, my point was that 400 variable yield nuclear bombs is not an 'only 400' comment, its a fair amount and it was tongue in cheek.