AF declares F-35A combat-ready

The Air Force today declared its first squadron of F-35As ready for battle. The milestone means that the service can now send its first operational F-35 formation, the 34th Fighter Squadron at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, into combat operations anywhere in the world. The service, which plans to buy 1,763 of the Lockheed Martin F-35As, is the single-largest customer of the fighter. The Air Force follows the Marine Corps in approving F-35s for operations. (Source: Defense News, Salt Lake City Tribune, Bloomberg, 08/02/16) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.