F-35A makes first bomb drop in California

Lockheed Martin reports that an F-35A test aircraft has completed the first test of an in-flight drop of a 2,000 pound guided JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) bomb. The test occurred Tuesday in a flight over the China Lae test range in California.

Piloted by U.S. Air Force Maj. Eric "Doc" Schultz, flight test aircraft AF-1 jettisoned an instrumented GBU-31 from the left internal weapons bay.

The F-35A is designed to carry a payload of up to 18,000 pounds using 10 weapon stations. Theaircraft can carry four weapons in two internal bays and can also utilize an additional three external weapon stations on each wing if required.

- Bob Cox