The F-35 Integrated Test Force (ITF) at Edwards AFB conducted an air-to-air refueling (AAR) trial with an Italian air force KC-767 tanker. According to the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO), the flight marked the first international tanker not operated by the U.S. Air Force to undergo refueling certification trials with a U.S. aircraft. Italy is buying both F-35A and F-35B aircraft, and AAR will further enhance their operational capability, according to the JPO.

The ITF has also been testing the GAU-22/A four-barrel Gatling gun, which is carried internally on the F-35A. It can be used in both air-to-air or air-to-ground mode. First firings were performed on the ground from tail number AF-2, using a software override to “fool” the aircraft into thinking that it is airborne. Flight-test firings of the gun are due to begin next month. On the F-35B and F-35C, internal space constraints mean that the gun can be carried only in an external pod.

According to the ITF, there are two important differences between the F-35A gun and those fired from the F-15 and the F-16. One, it is mounted internally to preserve stealth, firing only after closed doors are opened by the pilot pressing the trigger. Two, the F-35A gun fires 25 mm rather than 20 mm rounds. “The 25 mm shell is significantly more powerful than what I’ve been used to,” said Maj Andrew Rollins of the 461st Flight Test Squadron. The gun will be particularly useful in an air-to-ground role when enemy targets are in close proximity to friendlies and dropping a bomb is not prudent, he added.

The gun will be tested further next year on a standard production aircraft, and made available for operations in a future software release.