JSF and harpoon missile

[pboiler]

I didn't see harpoon missiles as a possible loadout for the JSF. I would expect that they will be able to carry them?

[TonyE]

When I asked the same question years ago the answer is that no money has been allocated to integrate the Harpoon with JSF. I don't know if that is still true but I tend to think that the US won't be paying for the integration work, it would be up to one of the other customers.

[broncepulido]

Another consideration, I think the external load of Harpoon make the F-35 unstealthly.

[Warhorse64]

Another consideration, I think the external load of Harpoon make the F-35 unstealthly.

 

 

Hmm, but *how* unstealthy? Later versions of the missile are themselves fairly stealthy, and if you can launch from 100+ nm range, there's probably still enough margin to get in and out without being spotted. Of course, it may simply be that they've decided that the extra standoff range of the Harpoon just isn't necessary. Certainly in the game I've killed the Kirov a couple of times with GBUs from F-35s at VLOW ...

[CV32]

As mentioned, there are no plans (to my knowledge) to integrate Harpoon with the JSF.

 

And Warhorse's point about the use of guided bombs is well made; I think there is an expectation that the latest 'moving target' capable versions of JDAM and like weapons will serve more than adequately in the ASuW role.

 

One of the problems with modeling a stealthy aircraft like the JSF in HCE is that you can't really model the degradation of stealth caused by hanging weapons on pylons (outside the internal weapons bay). You could potentially create two models of the JSF - one using internal weaps and the other external - but I think that would be quite cumbersome.