Tyndall will get three F-35 squadrons

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — Three new long-promised F-35 squadrons are officially coming to Tyndall Air Force Base following base redesigns underway since Hurricane Michael in 2018. According to an Air Force press release on Monday, a record of decision was issued by the Air Force to make Tyndall the site of three new squadrons of the F-35. The first set of F-35s will arrive in September 2023. Each squadron will have 24 Joint Strike Fighters, totaling 72 aircraft assigned to Tyndall's 325th Fighter Wing once full mission capability is achieved. Tyndall was selected in part for infrastructure capability, airspace, and quality of life for airmen, the press release stated. Tyndall is part of the Gulf Range Complex, which is part of 130,000 square miles of training airspace over the Gulf of Mexico and is one of the few ranges in the U.S. capable of supporting large-scale air combat training, officials wrote. Direct access to this range is essential for fifth-generation fighter readiness and for live-fire testing and training.(Sources: multiple, including WMBB, 03/29/21, Destin Log, 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs, 03/30/21) To the west of Tyndall, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is a center for F-35 training and is home to reprogramming labs. Previous