How Terma's Multi-Mission Pod Could Make F-35 Fighter Jets More Adaptable for Future Missions.

Terma is advancing its Multi-Mission Pod for the Lockheed Martin F-35 by repurposing the fighter's already certified external gun pod into a modular payload system. The approach could accelerate the integration of new mission capabilities while reducing cost, certification effort, and aircraft modifications for F-35 operators.

First unveiled at the Farnborough International Airshow in July 2022, the Danish company's concept transforms an existing certified gun pod structure into a configurable mission module capable of accommodating different payloads. Rather than developing a completely new external store, Terma's approach leverages an already qualified design, offering F-35 users a faster route to fielding additional capabilities while minimizing integration risk and preserving the aircraft's certification framework.

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The F-35B carries the certified centerline 25 mm Gun Pod that serves as the basis for Terma's Multi-Mission Pod concept. (Picture source: US DoD)

The company already holds an established position within the F-35 industrial supply chain. Since 2004, Terma has participated in the design and production of the Missionized Gun Pod for the F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing variant and the carrier-based F-35C. Mounted on the aircraft centerline, the pod houses the 25 mm GAU-22/A rotary cannon, while the F-35A carries the same weapon internally. According to Terma, the Gun Pod remains the only externally mounted pod certified for the F-35 following more than 100,000 engineering hours devoted to its development and qualification.

The Multi Mission Pod retains the external shape of the existing Gun Pod, a design decision that forms the basis of Terma's approach. Preserving the same aerodynamic configuration reduces the amount of work required for aerodynamic validation, structural loads assessment, vibration analysis and flight qualification. The internal volume can be configured to accommodate electronic warfare systems, self-protection equipment, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance payloads, additional jammers, power generation modules or directed energy systems. Terma also identifies concealed stores carriage as a potential application and intends to integrate equipment supplied by partner companies rather than relying exclusively on proprietary systems.

The F-35 is built around a highly integrated combat architecture that relies on sensor fusion to generate a unified tactical picture. Its AN/APG-81 active electronically scanned array radar, AN/AAQ-40 Electro-Optical Targeting System, AN/AAQ-37 Distributed Aperture System with six infrared sensors, and AN/ASQ-239 electronic warfare suite continuously exchange information to support threat detection, tracking, and targeting. Data can also be shared through the aircraft's secure communication architecture, allowing the F-35 to operate as part of a broader networked force. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney F135 turbofan producing approximately 43,000 pounds of thrust with afterburner, the aircraft reaches Mach 1.6 while retaining internal weapon carriage to preserve its low observable characteristics during penetrating missions.

The purpose of the Multi Mission Pod is therefore not to duplicate capabilities already available onboard the aircraft but to expand them when mission requirements demand it. The available internal volume together with the pod's electrical capacity could support payloads that require more space or power than can be accommodated within the aircraft without redesigning its internal architecture. In the electronic warfare domain, a dedicated pod could host additional antennas, deliver higher jamming output, or carry techniques optimized against specific radar bands and integrated air defense systems. An ISR configuration could integrate specialized sensors offering capabilities tailored to a particular operational requirement. This approach would also allow only part of an F-35 fleet to receive a specialized mission package instead of requiring every aircraft to undergo the same modernization process.

According to statements by Dan Jurta reported by FlightGlobal, Terma is currently engaged in preliminary discussions with the F-35 Joint Program Office to identify future capability requirements that could be incorporated into the Multi Mission Pod. He stated that survivability has emerged as one of the areas receiving particular attention. Jurta also indicated that using an already qualified structure could allow the physical integration of a new capability within months rather than years, providing a faster response to either a conventional acquisition program or an urgent operational requirement.

The principal trade-off remains the aircraft's low observable performance. Any externally carried equipment increases the radar signature of the F-35 compared with an internal configuration. However, once hostile air defense networks have been degraded or in missions where maximum stealth is no longer the primary consideration, a mission-specific pod may provide greater operational value than maintaining the lowest possible signature. Operators could therefore assign different roles within the same formation, with some aircraft remaining optimized for penetrating missions while others carry electronic warfare, intelligence collection or other specialized payloads in support of the wider force.

The Multi-Mission Pod also reflects a broader shift toward modular capability development within combat aviation. Rather than introducing permanent modifications across an entire fleet, operators could field specialized mission packages only when required while continuing to rely on a common certified platform. If the concept progresses beyond its current development stage, it could provide F-35 users with a more flexible pathway for integrating emerging capabilities while reducing the certification effort normally associated with entirely new external systems. This approach may become increasingly relevant as operators seek to respond more rapidly to evolving electronic warfare threats and changing operational requirements without altering the baseline aircraft design.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in Security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.