Lightning Pathfinders

摘要

Don't ever underestimate the difficulties of introducing new capabilities, particularly when they include the new F-35B Lightning on a new aircraft carrier as Alan Warnes has discovered. Next year there will be a seismic shift in UK capabilities, when the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier embarks upon its first operational tour -known as Carrier Strike Group 21 (CSG21), With it comes a plethora of new military systems but arguably the most important is the fifth generation F-35B Lightning Ⅱ combat aircraft. All hands-are-now-on-deck (excuse the pun) to ensure they, like the rest of the aircraft are combat-ready when the ship slips anchor from Portsmouth in mid-2021. Spearheading the F-35B's introduction into service is the Lightning Force, a joint Royal Navy and RAF command organisation. There are currently two UK F-35B Lightning squadrons, 61 7 Squadron 'The Dambusters' and 207 Sqn based at RAF Marham, Norfolk. While 617 Sqn gets on with sharpening its operational capabilities, 207 Sqn is the F-35B Operational Conversion Unit. Air Cdre David 'Bradders' Bradshaw, previously Lightning Force Commander and now the RAF's Head of UK Combat Air, said of 207: "As our F-35B training unit, the squadron qualifies its staff, instructs the front line pilots and eventually new ab-initio pilots as they come through the training system."