DOD Accelerates Weapons Integration Into Air Force JSF Variant To 'Reduce Program Risk'

The Defense Department is accelerating weapons integration on the F-35A and plans to outfit the Block 2B -- previously slated to carry no ordnance -- with precision-guided bombs, a move the Joint Strike Fighter joint program office says is part of a plan to "reduce program risk" and allow the early Air Force variant to be rebranded as an "initial warfighting" configuration.