What Missiles Can the F-35 Fire? Air-to-Air and Strike

The F-35 fires the AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9X Sidewinder against aircraft today, and it is cleared or scheduled to carry a growing list of cruise, anti-ship and anti-radar missiles. Four missiles fit inside its weapons bays, which keeps the jet stealthy; larger weapons hang under the wings.

The list is about to grow. A Pentagon acquisition report released in August 2026 sets September 2027 as the date for the AARGM-ER, LRASM and Joint Strike Missile, and 2032 for Europe’s Meteor. This guide sorts F-35 missiles into what is in service now and what is coming.

Which air-to-air missiles does the F-35 carry?

The main weapon is the Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM, a radar-guided missile for targets beyond visual range. Each of the two bays holds two, one on the bay door and one on the inner station, so the jet carries four while staying stealthy. The range of the latest AIM-120D is classified; public estimates put it at around 160 km.

For close-range fights the F-35 carries the heat-seeking AIM-9X Sidewinder on its outer wing pylons. British jets use the MBDA ASRAAM in the same position. Neither fits in the bays, so carrying them adds some radar signature.

The AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile is the one to watch. Built by Lockheed Martin to out-range Chinese missiles such as the PL-15, it is sized to fit the same bays as AMRAAM. We covered the AIM-260 production agreement separately.

Which air-to-ground and anti-ship missiles can it fire?

Here the F-35 is still catching up with older fighters. The F-35C carries the AGM-154 JSOW glide weapon internally, and the AGM-158 JASSM cruise missile is slated for external carriage. Most of the other missiles depend on the delayed TR-3 and Block 4 upgrades.

The Joint Strike Missile, built by Norway’s Kongsberg, is the only long-range cruise missile designed from the start to fit inside the F-35A’s bay. That lets the jet attack ships and land targets from more than 275 km without giving up stealth. The AARGM-ER will give it a fast missile for killing radar sites from inside the bay as well. Details of the US stockpile are in our report on the JASSM and LRASM contract.

How many missiles can an F-35 carry?

In stealth configuration the answer today is four AMRAAMs, or two AMRAAMs and two bombs. A modification known as Sidekick, listed in the acquisition report as six in the bay, will raise the internal load to six AMRAAMs on the F-35A and F-35C. The target date is September 2030. The F-35B cannot take it because its bays are shorter.

When stealth is not needed the six wing stations come into play. Two outer stations take short-range missiles and four inner stations take heavier stores, including more AMRAAMs. Pilots call the fully loaded configuration beast mode. It trades radar signature for firepower and is meant for the later stages of a campaign, once enemy air defences have been beaten down.

Has the F-35 fired missiles in combat?

Yes. Israeli F-35I jets shot down Iranian drones in March 2021 and a cruise missile launched from Yemen in 2023. In September 2025 Dutch F-35s shot down Russian drones that had entered Polish airspace. On 4 March 2026 an Israeli F-35I destroyed an Iranian Yak-130 over Tehran with a long-range air-to-air missile, the first time an F-35 has shot down a crewed aircraft. Israel has not named the missile used.

Most F-35 combat sorties have delivered bombs, not missiles. The background is in our guide to what the F-35 is; range and tanker support are covered in how long an F-35 can stay in the air.

Frequently asked questions

What missiles does the F-35 carry?

AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9X Sidewinder today, plus ASRAAM on British jets and JSOW on the F-35C. AIM-260, Meteor, JSM, LRASM, AARGM-ER and SPEAR 3 are planned.

How many missiles can the F-35 carry internally?

Four AMRAAMs today. The Sidekick modification will raise that to six on the F-35A and F-35C, with a target date of September 2030.

Can the F-35 carry the Meteor missile?

Not yet. Integration is planned for September 2032, mainly for British and Italian aircraft.

Can the F-35 fire anti-ship missiles?

Not yet in service. The Joint Strike Missile and LRASM are both scheduled for September 2027.

Does the F-35 carry the AIM-9X inside its weapons bay?

No. The AIM-9X is carried on the outer wing pylons.

Has an F-35 shot down another aircraft?

Yes. An Israeli F-35I shot down an Iranian Yak-130 on 4 March 2026. F-35s have also destroyed drones and a cruise missile.