Director of the F-35 Joint Program Office Admiral Mathias W. Winter told Defense News at the Air Force Association conference last week that the GBU-49, which will provide F-35As with the ability to hit moving targets, has passed “fit checks”, “all of the other integration” and “all of the normal weapons integration” including form, fit and function. 

The aircraft’s most recent software iteration does not include specific interfaces for the munition. Only jets with Block 3F software can launch the Raytheon-made munition. The upgrade work on all F-35As with Block 3F is aimed to be completed before the end of 2017.