Originally Posted by
newt
One has to ask why this very expensive aircraft is show boating at low level with all the attendant risks? Surely being stealthy it does not need to penetrate at low level like we did in the Cold War? Maybe I have missed something?
The F-35 is designed to operate in both stealthy and non-stealthy configurations. Nothing remarkable about an F-35 training at low level and operating like a legacy platform, IMHO.
Certainly the USMC and RAF/RN are going to be operating the F-35B at times with external gun pod and external weapons. The same with the US Navy F-35Cs.
F-35B external weapons and gun pod.
F-35C external weapons.
https://www.f35.com/media/photos-det...ternal-weapons
F-35A external weapons.