"Sorja" wrote in message
...
http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/planes/q0163.shtml
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http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache...il/ndia/2004gu
ns/wed/maher.ppt+%22F-35%22+%2225mm%22&hl=en
It looks like either 180 or 182 rounds for the CTOL variant and either 220
or
225 rounds for the gunpod for the CV and STOVL variants. 4,000 shots per
minute is 66 rounds per second which gives the CTOL variant 3 shots with
the
gun and the CV and STOVL variants 4 shots with the gun. I'm no expert,
but to
me, it seems like a kinda low ammo supply for a close air support
aircraft.
Anyone agree? Disagree? Since the program is still in early stages, is
it
possible the ammo load would be increased?
Thanks
They are probably thinking the gun won't see much use in Air-To-Air and that
missiles and bombs are more likely for Air-To-Ground as well. I seem to
recall 400-600 rounds being loaded for Vulcans on 20mm armed fighters. It
might be wise to increase it in the F-35, but we will see. The 25mm should
be a good weapon on a per-shot basis, though.