What weapons can the F-35 carry? Global armaments list

The ever-increasing bite of the Lockheed Martin F-35 makes it a fearsome system. Gerard Keijsper looks at its armaments and the developments to come

With any fighter aircraft everyone hopes that it will never be used in anger; the quality and quantity in place should be a sufficient deterrent to prevent a war. If this has not worked, it’s the mission and weapons systems that will help do the job.

An F-35B getting off the tanker during operation Octave Quartz 2021 this aircraft equipped with the gun pod participated over an undisclosed area over east.
An F-35B getting off the tanker during operation Octave Quartz 2021 this aircraft equipped with the gun pod participated over an undisclosed area over east. USAF Staff Sgt. Trevor McBride

A case in point is the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II – here we look at its current weapon systems and how its requirements will be fulfilled for current and future operators.

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