Report: Lockheed Looks to Increase F-35 Missile Capacity With New Weapons Rack

Lockheed Martin aims to increase the F-35 fighter jet’s air-to-air firepower with a newly-built weapons rack designed to increase payload capacity to six missiles, Popular Mechanics reported Friday. 

The company developed the Sidekick system to fit up to three AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles on each weapons bay of the aircraft. The existing carriage is limited to only two weapons.

Sidekick is designed to integrate with the Air Force’s F-35A and the Navy’s F-35C aircraft, the report noted.

The new weapons rack is not available in the market yet but Lockheed reportedly plans to offer the system for the future Block 4 variant of the F-35 aircraft.