U.S. Air Force: Ground testing for F-35 gun conducted at Edwards AFB
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) -- The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Integrated Test Force is in the process of testing the F-35A Lightning II’s newest munitions asset, a four-barrel Gatling gun that fires 25 mm rounds known as the GAU-22/A.
Unlike the Marine Corps and Navy variants, the GAU-22/A is integrated internally to the F-35A. In the other variants, the gun is mounted to the outside as a pod. A similar weapon, GAU-12, has been used on the AV-8B Harrier.
The first phase of testing started June 9, when the first shots were fired on the ground at the Edwards Gun Harmonizing Range. The test team hopes to finish ground testing sometime during August and start the airborne phase in late September. An operational gun capability will be added with a future block of software, which is in the beginning stages of testing at Edwards AFB.
Update #1: Watch the F-35 test its onboard cannon for the 1st time -- Business Insider
Update #2: Air Force tests internal integration of Gatling gun on F-35A -- UPI
WNU Editor: How can this be a better plane than the A-10? According to Guns.com, the F-35 cannon can fire 55 rounds per second, but .... and this is a BIG but .... it must fire relatively slowly to conserve ammunition for the simple reason that the F-35 can hold only a 220-round magazine. In short .... if the F-35 fires 55 rounds per second continuously, the F-35 would run out of ammunition within four seconds. Contrast this with the A-10 which can hold 1,350 rounds.