 |
| US Air Force F-35A (Image: Wiki Commons) |
by Richard Tomkins
U.S. Air Force F-35 units have dropped laser-guided bombs at a Utah test range, the first use of weapons by combat fighter wings.
The bombing occurred at Utah Test and Training Range and involved the Air Force's 388th and 419th Fighter Wings at Hill Air Force Base using GBU-12 laser-guided bombs.
"This is significant because we're building the confidence of our pilots by actually dropping something off the airplane instead of simulating weapon employment," said Lt. Col. George Watkins, 34th Fighter Squadron commander.
Air Force F-35s have dropped weapons in test environments, but this is the first time it's been done on jets designed to deploy once the F-35 gains initial operational capability later this year.
Read the full story at SpaceDaily