F-35C flies with GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb II [Image 1 of 3]

NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, MD, UNITED STATES

01.09.2023

Photo by Dane Wiedmann 

F-35 Lightning II Pax River ITF   

An F-35C Lightning II fighter aircraft flown by test pilot U.S. Marine Maj. Alex Horne is photographed from below during one of the initial airborne tests of the carrier variant jet with an inert GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb-II (SDB II) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., Jan. 10, 2023. Test data gathered and analyzed from the weapon environment and loads testing flights inform a flight clearance decision about the next phase of integration testing, airborne separation tests, which are scheduled to take place later this year. The SDB II is an air-launched, precision-strike standoff weapon that will enable the warfighter to defeat moving and fixed targets in adverse weather conditions. The F-35C and Maj. Horne are from the Pax River F-35 Integrated Test Force (ITF), whose workforce is responsible for effectively planning, coordinating, and conducting safe, secure, and efficient flight test for the B and C variants of the aircraft.

• Date Taken: 01.09.2023
• Date Posted: 02.21.2023 07:17
• Photo ID: 7642430
• VIRIN: 230110-O-ZB537-366
• Resolution: 3600x2400
• Size: 0 B
• Location: NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, MD, US