Video: F-35A’s first AMRAAM release

Gary Parsons

Lockheed Martin

23 October 2012

Lockheed Martin’s F-35A has completed the type’s first aerial weapons release of an AIM-120 AMRAAM.

October 23: Hot on the heels of last week’s first JDAM drop, Lockheed Martin’s F-35A test aircraft AF-01 has completed the type’s first aerial weapons release of an AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile).

US Air Force pilot Major Matthew Phillips completed the test on October 19 over the China Lake test range. This was the second in-flight weapons release in three days for AF-01 as it had completed the release of a 2,000lb (900kg) GBU-31 BLU-109 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) on October 16.

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