What Is That Weird Pod On This F-35 Belly?

From the (yet another...) Gizmodo article:

But why does the F-35B carry its optional cannon in a pod on its belly, you ask? Because-unlike the regular F-35A-this short take off and vertical-landing variant doesn't have space inside its fuselage. Unfortunately, carrying this optional weapon reduces the stealth of this type of Lightning II, which is supposed to be one of its core strengths.

My guess: Even with this pod, the F-35 is still way more stealthy than the Marines' previous V/STOL jet, the A/V-8B Harrier. Not that the Marines are quite as concerned about stealth as the Air Force or Navy pilots anyway.

It looks like one of those streamlined roof pods you can buy for your car. Perhaps it holds a change of clothes & a couple of good books.

A 25 Mike Mike gatling gun pod eh? I wonder if it's based on the old 25mm Ford Philco Gatling gun that was scraped by the Army (was on the Sgt. York Anti-Aircraft vehicle that was eventually cancelled)?

As far as I'm concerned, nothing can subplant the Republic-Fairchild A-10A Thunderbolt II (aka the "Warthog") for shear destructive capability in Close Air Support (CAS). The new F-35 is going to be too fast (in comparison to the "Hog") for accurate placement of it's gun rounds.

Give me an A-10A any day, anytime, anywhere.......the Hog rules the battlefield with it's GAU-8 Avenger gun and 30mm DU!