F-35 Lightning II is known for its stealthy profile.
But there is another side to it in which it can pack more weapons and is popularly known
as Beast Mode.
In this mode, the F-35 can carry up to 4 times payload when compared to its normal mode.
This mode makes the F 35 a completely different adversary to deal with for a rival and could
be used in certain scenarios.
Beast Mode adds a lot of tactical flexibility to the nations which are deploying the F 35s
In this video Defense Updates analyzes the deployment of F35 in Beast Mode in HMS Queen
Elizabeth Aircraft carrier.
Let’s get started.
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American made British F 35s have taken off and landed on the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft
carrier for the first time recently.
The tests are part of 'Westlant 19' and the aim of the trail is to make sure that the
F 35s work with HMS Queen Elizabeth.
The idea is to have an 'end to end’ testing to ascertain that the two platforms are properly
integrated and F35s can be deployed from the HMS Queen Elizabeth seamlessly going forward.
The tests involve mission planning, using automated weapon handling system of the carrier
to load weapons, undertaking aerial missions and debriefing on completion.
As per plans, the fighter planes will be jointly manned by the Royal Air Force and the Royal
Navy and can operate from land and sea.
The UK is expected to declare Initial Operating Capability for Carrier Strike by the end of
2020.
The first operational deployment for HMS Queen Elizabeth 617 Squadron and a squadron of US
Marine Corps Lightning jets is due to take place in 2021.
New images released indicate that the F35s were also deployed in Beast Mode.
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II which is a single-seat, single-engine, all-weather
stealth multirole fighters is undergoing final development and testing by the United States.
The Pentagon began the F 35 program in 2001 with an aim to develop a cost-effective replacement
for the U.S. military’s F15 fighters, F 16 and F18 fighter bombers and reconnaissance
aircraft and A10 close in support warplanes.
The F-35 has three main models: the conventional takeoff and landing F-35A (CTOL), the short
take-off and vertical-landing F-35B (STOVL), and the catapult-assisted take-off but arrested
recovery, carrier-based F-35C (CATOBAR)
Apart from the United States, the primary customer and financial backer, the United
Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, Turkey (now removed), Australia, Norway, and Denmark
are also part of the program.
Many other nations like Japan and Israel are also deploying the fighters.
The 9 major partner nations, including the U.S, plan to acquire over 2,000 F-35s through
2035, which, if delivered will make the F-35 one of the most numerous jet fighters.
The fighter aircraft are expected to remain in service beyond 2050.
Britain will field a fleet of 138 F-35s.
It plans to initially acquire 48 F-35B that will be jointly operated by the Royal Air
Force and Royal Navy.
Out of this, 16 have been already delivered.
A subsequent order is expected that will have a mix of F-35B and F-35A.
F 35 being a 5th generation fighter is developed from grounds up to be stealthy.
Its external structure is designed to deflect signals away from the emitting radar which
makes it hard to detect or track.
This is done by having no sharp edges or protruding elements and having a smooth external curvature.
Also, it has a coating of RAM (Radar Absorbing Material) that reduces the number of signals
getting reflected.
F 35 has the lowest Radar Cross Section (RCS) of all the jets except the F 22 Raptor.
• Against x-band radars, it is stealthy from front and rear
• Against S-band radar, it is stealthy from the narrow front aspect
• Against L-band radar, the limited reduction is achieved from direct front
Classified techniques have also been used to reduce the heat signature of F 35.
This thermal profile management of the jet makes it difficult for Infrared (IR) homing
missiles to target it.
It is a genuinely Low Observable (LO) platform in
Importantly in stealth configuration or mode, weapons are carried internally.
F 35s in stealth mode will be useful when it is deployed in the initial days of the
campaign to penetrate enemy territory that 4th generation fighters will find difficult
to handle.
It will neutralize air as well as ground threats and provide critical intelligence.
Essentially in stealth mode, it will be used to gain air dominance.
But once this is achieved, F 35 can be deployed in Beast Mode where it will carry weapons
in external hardpoints too.
In stealth mode, the F-35 can carry 5,700 pounds of ordnance but when it converts to
Beast Mode it will be able to carry up to 22,000 pounds of payload - internal and external
weapons combined.
The 22,000 pounds capacity will mean in Beast Mode F 35 will be able to carry several different
combinations of various weapons.
1.
Paveway IV is the latest iteration of the Paveway series.
It is a dual-mode GPS or INS and laser-guided bomb manufactured by Raytheon UK.
2.
ASRAAM is the British replacement for the AIM-9 Sidewinder and it is specially integrated
on the F-35 for the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, It is produced by MBDA and is designed
for Visual Range combat.
It has a range of operation of 15 miles or 25 km and speed of Mach 3+
3.
The Meteor BVRAAM is also expected to be integrated on the aircraft, as the Royal Air Force recently
declared it operational.
It will eventually replace the AMRAAM in the next years.
The missile is designed from grounds up to meet not only today’s threats but also the
future once and is consider to be the best BVR (Beyond Visual Range) Air to Air missile.
It is capable of engaging fast agile jets to small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles as well
as cruise missiles in extreme weather conditions.
It has a range of around 95 miles or 150 km and speed of Mach 4.The missile has a no-escape
zone of 37 miles or 60 km which is the largest more a missile of this category.
F-35 is a multirole fighter and with Beat Mode, it will able to adapt seamlessly as
per the requirements of the battle situation.
It is important to note that though it with loose the stealth edge in this mode, F-35s
will still be better than any 4th generation fighter when it comes to many aspects like
situational awareness thanks to its sensor fusion capability.
The same fighter could be used to execute a mission on the first day as well as end
of the battle.
This will provide excellent operational flexibility to the British military especially since it
doesn’t have a dedicate stealthy air superiority fighter like F 22 Raptor of the U.S.
As the fighter completes its integration with the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier,
the duo will form a deadly combo as the carrier can deploy upto 36 F-35s.