F-35B Airborne Gunfire Testing

The US Marine Corps' F-35B just made history by firing its gun pod for the first time while flying. The Salty Dogs of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23's Pax River Integrated Test Force (ITF) made aviation history Monday, May 8, 2017 when they completed airborne gunfire testing for the F-35B Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant. The gunpod, which is strapped to the belly of the aircraft, can fire at 55 rounds per second and carries 220 rounds of 25 mm firepower.