Tuesday, June 4, 2013

F-35 operational dates revealed

The fifth-generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighter will reach operational milestones in 2015 for the Marine Corps, 2016 for the Air Force and 2019 for the Navy, according to details formally provided to Congress. Those are the dates that F-35 will achieve initial operational capability, the point when the services have enough planes to go to war if needed. Actual deployments usually lag initial operational capability by about a year. (Source: Reuters, 06/03/13) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base is home of the F-35 training center.