On Jan. 13, RAF Squadron Ldr. Andy Edgell flew first F-35C, the U.S. Navy’s carrier variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, with external GBU-12s, AIM-9Xs air-to-air missiles and the centerline gun pod.
Obviously, a radar-evading plane loses some of its stealthiness with such an external payload…
Image credit: Andy Wolfe via Lockheed Martin