By the first week of March, an F-35A of the 34 ° Fighter Squadron stationed at Hill's Air Force Base, he will drop the first laser-guided bomb at the Test and training range in Utah. This is what they communicate in a joint note from the Pentagon and from Lockheed Martin
"If the test is passed, it will be another milestone in the F-35 program. A low observability fighter is of little use if it is not able to launch intelligent weapon systems, the test with the GBU-12 Paveway II, will be the moment of truth for version A of the JSF ”.
According to the provisions of the Marine Corps Aviation Plan, the F-35 will replace the entire EA-6B fleet Prowler within the 2019 and will displace the AV-8B Harrier from the 2026. Finally, the F-35 will detect the F / A-18 Hornet in 2030.
The Air Force will reach the Initial Operational Capacity of the F-35A as soon as the first squad consisting of 12-24 aircraft was formed, with trained airmen and crews able to carry out close air support missions, interdiction and limited suppression and destruction of enemy anti-aircraft defenses. The F-35A will reach the Initial Operational Capacity between August and December of the 2016.
Finally, the US Navy, equipped with the F-35C, will reach the Initial Operational Capacity as soon as the first squadron of 10 aircraft will be formed, with personnel and pilots of the navy trained and able to carry out the assigned missions. The F-35C will reach the Initial Operational Capacity between August 2018 and February 2019.
The 55 years of life of the F-35 fighter will cost the United States 1500 billions of dollars. In addition to the United States, hunting was ordered by Great Britain, Australia, Italy, Turkey, Norway, the Netherlands, Japan, South Korea and Israel.
(photo: Lockheed Martin)
