F-35 drops guided bomb

An F-35 dropped a 500-pound guided bomb this week, hitting a tank at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The F-35B released the laser-guided GBU-12 Paveway II from its internal weapons bay while flying at around 25,000 feet. The Pentagon's top arms buyer this week said the F-35 program had made sufficient progress to budget for higher production in fiscal year 2015. (Source: Reuters, 10/30/13) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 training center. Previous: F-35 has missile launch milestone; F-35 drops 2,000-pounder; F-35 drops AIM-120; F-35 has external weapons test