Air Force F-35 Version Cleared for Combat - prepared for global threats

On 2 August 2016 at Joint Base Langley-Eustis,Virginia,US Air Force General Hawk Carlisle,commander,Air Combat Command,declared the Air Force's F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter to be combat ready.The general said the aircraft met all criteria for declaring initial operational capability:
airmen trained,manned and equipped to conduct basic close air support,interdiction and limited suppression/destruction of enemy air defences 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 mission systems;
and having all logistics and operational elements in place.
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,General Carlisle added.*
Besides basic combat readiness,the aircraft provides great command and control functions through fused sensors,and it will provide pilots with unprecedented situational awareness of the battle space that will be more extensive than any single seat platform in existence,officials point out.*
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,according to Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James.This important milestone for our fighter force ensures the US,along with our allies and international partners,remains prepared to deter,deny and defeat the full spectrum of growing threats around the globe.*
The Air Force's first operational squadron of F-35As is the 388th Fighter Wing,Hill Air Force Base,Utah.They will fly and maintain the fifth generation fighter with Air Force Reservists from the 419th Fighter Wing at Hill.*
Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for the F-35 and its three variants for the Air Force (F-35A),US Marine Corps (F-35B) and US Navy (F-35C),as well as allies and partners expressing an interest such as Great Britain,Australia and the Netherlands.*
Lockheed Martin (LMT)