Lockheed Martin
Photo: Lockheed Martin
US declares F-35 'combat ready'
During operational training exercise, F-35 intercepted an 'enemy' drone; Israel set to receive first jets this December, Israeli pilots already training in the US; US Air Combat Command general; 'The F-35A will be the most dominant aircraft in our inventory.'
The US Air Force on Tuesday declared an initial squadron of F-35A stealth fighters as “ready for combat.” The much anticipated jet is set to make its debut in Israel this December following an official transfer ceremony which took place in Dallas, Texas in June.
The announcement was made by Gen. Herbert J. "Hawk" Carlisle, commander of the US Air Combat Command, who said it had become “combat ready.”
F-35
Carlisle praised the jet’s performance and pointed to the fact that it meets all the important criteria for initial operational capability: Pilots and skilled personnel, manned and equipped to conduct basic close air support, and having all necessary logistics and operational elements in place
'Combat ready F-35' (Photo: Lockheed Martin)
During its first operational exercise conducted on Tuesday the stealth jet intercepted, for the first time, an “enemy” unmanned aerial vehicle (UVA).
“I am proud to announce this powerful new weapons system has achieved initial combat capability,” Carlisle said.
“The F-35A will be the most dominant aircraft in our inventory, because it can go where our legacy aircraft cannot and provide the capabilities our commanders need on the modern battlefield,” said Gen. Carlisle.
Photo: Lockheed Martin)
Chief of Staff of the US Air Force Gen. David L. Goldfein also lauded the virtues of the F-35: ”The F-35A brings an unprecedented combination of lethality, survivability, and adaptability to joint and combined operations and is ready to deploy and strike well-defended targets anywhere on Earth," Goldfein said. "Today's declaration is an important milestone on the road to achieving full warfighting capability for the F-35A.”
From its first day in the IAF the jet will be able to become operational for limited missions. A declaration about its operational capability in the Israel Air Force (IAF) is expected at the end of 2017.
Senior officers in the IAF told Ynet two months ago that in light of past experiences, it is possible that the first planes in Israel will be deployed in operational sorties as early as the first months from when they are received. The first ‘Adir,’ which was formally sent to Israel a month and a half ago, underwent its first trial flight last week.
In total, Israel is set to receive 33 such planes, with deliveries taking place over the course of the remaining year and next year. Six will be received annually until 2021 which will, together, form two squadrons.
