Posted on 08/02/2016 9:30:41 PM PDT by Enchante
AF declares the F-35A ‘combat ready’
By Air Combat Command Public Affairs, / Published August 02, 2016 JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. (AFNS) -- The F-35A Lightning II fifth-generation fighter aircraft was declared ‘combat ready’ by Gen. Hawk Carlisle, the commander of Air Combat Command, Aug 2.
Carlisle lauded the aircraft’s performance, noting that the aircraft had met all key criteria for reaching initial operational capability: Airmen trained, manned and equipped to conduct basic close air support, interdiction and limited suppression/destruction of enemy air defenses in a contested environment with an operational squadron of 12-24 aircraft; the ability to deploy and conduct operational missions using program of record weapons and missions systems; and having all necessary logistics and operational elements in place.
“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.”
The F-35A is the latest addition to ACC’s fleet of deployable and fifth-generation aircraft. It provides air superiority, interdiction, suppression of enemy air defenses and close air support as well as great command and control functions through fused sensors, and it will provide pilots with unprecedented situational awareness of the battlespace that will be more extensive than any single-seat platform in existence.
“Bringing the F-35A to initial combat readiness is a testament to our phenomenal Airmen and the outstanding support of the Joint Program Office and our enterprise partners. This important milestone for our fighter force ensures the United States, along with our allies and international partners, remains prepared to deter, deny, and defeat the full spectrum of growing threats around the globe," added Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James.
Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. David L. Goldfein, said that dynamic new capability will benefit the joint warfighter.
"The combat ready F-35A is the latest fifth-generation fighter aircraft in the Air Force's inventory and provides our nation air dominance in any environment. 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 of IOC is an important milestone on the road to achieving full warfighting capability for the F-35A.”
The 34th Fighter Squadron of the 388th Fighter Wing, based at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the service’s first operational F-35A squadron, having met all the established criteria for initial operational capability including a successful June deployment to Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, and a series of eight-aircraft sorties held in mid-July. 34th FS Airmen will fly and maintain the F-35A alongside Air Force Reservists from Hill’s 419th Fighter Wing.
"Our Airmen have worked tirelessly to make sure our aircraft are combat ready: meeting challenges head-on and completing all the required milestones," said Col. David Lyons, the 388th Fighter Wing commander. "We're very proud that the Air Force has declared us combat ready and we're prepared to take this aircraft wherever it's needed in support of our national defense."
Those sentiments were echoed by Col. David Smith, the 419th FW commander. “It's an honor to fly and maintain the F-35 with our active-duty counterparts here at Hill,” Smith said. “Our units were the first to fly combat-ready F-16s nearly 40 years ago, and we're very proud to have made history once again in bringing the Air Force's newest fighter jet to IOC.”
For more information click this link: http://www.acc.af.mil/AirCombatCommandsF-35AProgram.aspx
For questions, contact Air Combat Command Public Affairs at (757) 764-5007 or via e-mail accpa.operations@us.af.mil
I do recall hearing about that.
That said, while McCain hated the thing, the Air Force and its contractors screwed the pooch on this plane. Took 26 years to produce and was waaaaaaayyyyy over budget.
Yeah, it was over-budget... but I actually blame Congress for that: just like they've entered into absolutely terrible trade-agreements, they've also written up absolutely terrible contracts for development. (And they should certainly be more competent with budgeting.)
I like great military aircraft as much as the next guy, but this program was poorly managed in production and implementation. I suspect the Air Force got a spanking over this one.
I agree that there was poor management, but that seems to be because mismanagement isn't punished and, in the cases of those horrible contracts, can even be profitable for the company developing it.
Except it's being touted as the next great CAS platform, capable of and intended to replacing the A-10… which has a lot going for it in CAS.
Probably right, or just light venting?
Not venting, just kind of dismayed they are labelling it combat ready, given where it’s (not) at.
Wingtip vortexes, not fuel.
“Except it’s being touted as the next great CAS platform, capable of and intended to replacing the A-10… which has a lot going for it in CAS.”
Not really. See my post above.
The A-10 was designed to bust tanks, not for CAS. It’s 30mm cannon isn’t a great design for AP use.
Busting tanks and APCs is really great for infantry. The 30mm is also good for busting up light/medium fortifications and entrenched positions, and its other ordinance for busting larger stuff. (There's a reason that infantrymen love the A-10.)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.