The U.S. Air Force has declared its F-35A Lightning II fighter jet ‘combat ready,’ marking a major milestone for the controversial aircraft. The 34th Fighter Squadron of the 388th Fighter Wing, based at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the first operational F-35A squadron. Gen. Hawk Carlisle, commander of the Air Combat Command, announced the aircraft’s combat readiness Tuesday. The squadron completed a successful June deployment to Mountain Home AFB in Idaho and a series of eight-aircraft sorties last month, the Air Force said. “It’s ready to go to war, it’s ready to keep the peace.”Developed by Lockheed Martin, three variants of the F-35 Lightning II will eventually replace legacy fighters for the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps.

Source: Fox News August 03, 2016 13:52 UTC