First F-35 guided weapons drop on a ground target

An F-35B has successfully dropped an inert GBU-12 laser-guided bomb against a tank test target, the first time an F-35 has dropped a weapon on a ground target.

The F-35B dropped the 500lb GBU-12 from an internal weapons bay at an altitude of 25,000ft after using its EOTS to identify, track, designate the weapon against a stationary tank on the Edwards Air Force Base Precision Impact Range.

The October 29 flight was piloted by Marine Corps test pilot Major Richard Rusnok.