LIGHTNINGS OVER IRAQ: The US Air Force has started its first combat deployment with the F-35A Lightning II, amid calls for the new fighter to become more affordable with much-improved mission-capable rates

摘要

WITH LITTLE FANFARE, six US Air Force F-35As from the 4th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (EFS) 'Fightin' Fuujins' and its Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) associate unit, the 466th EFS 'Diamondbacks', slipped into the night on April 11, heading east from Hill AFB, Utah. The first signs of a maiden combat deployment by the USAF's Lightning IIs came as this first wave of the fighters landed the following day at Moron Air Base in Spain. With a further four jets in trail, the initial flight of F-35As from the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings began arriving at Al Dhafra, United Arab Emirates, on the evening of April 15. The aircraft were welcomed by local commanders including the head of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing (AEW), Brig Gen Adrian Spain.