Some folks like to throw rocks at the F-35 Charlie, the carrier variant of the Lightning II fighter aircraft. However, these recent images of a ‘Salty Dogs” VX-23 F-35C carrying twin 200+nm range AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASMs) and self-defense Sidewinders are just outright sexy.
NAS PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — An F-35 Lightning II test pilot conducts flight test Sept. 10 to certify the carrier variant of the fighter aircraft for carrying the AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM).
As part of ongoing integration efforts, the Pax River F-35 Integrated Test Force (Pax ITF) team flew two days of test flights to evaluate flutter, loads, and flying qualities with two AGM-158 loaded on external stations. LRASM is a defined near-term solution for the Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare (OASuW) air-launch capability gap that will provide flexible, long-range, advanced, anti-surface capability against high-threat maritime targets.
The Pax River ITF’s mission is to effectively plan, coordinate, and conduct safe, secure, and efficient flight tests for F-35B and C variants, and provide necessary and timely data to support program verification/certification and fleet operational requirements.
In related news, the Marines are currently validating the AGM-158A JASSM on a legacy (30-year-old) F/A-18D Block 44 Hornet assigned to the “Red Devils” of VMFA-232 at MCAS Miramar earlier this month. Of note, NAVAIR already worked it out for the bigger Rhino back in like 2016.
U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 232, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11, MAG-11, load an AGM-158A joint air-to-surface standoff missile on an F/A-18 Hornet assigned to VMFA-232 during the AGM-158A validation and verification at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, Aug. 27, 2024. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jennifer Sanchez)
The presser included this:
Marine Corps strike fighter platforms are postured to acquire long-range, maritime strike capabilities with the inclusion of the AGM-158B joint air-to-surface standoff missile extended range and AGM-158C long-range anti-ship missile on the F-35B/C weapons integration roadmap.
“The JASSM not only surpasses the capabilities of any other weapon currently in the Hornet’s extensive weapons portfolio but also the Marine Corps at large,” Kirby said. “This added capability will greatly increase 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing’s ability to support the joint force and enable greater freedom of maneuver across all operational domains.”