U.S. Air Force declares first squadron of F-35 jets combat-ready

[GhostZ06]

The U.S. Air Force on Tuesday declared an initial squadron of Lockheed Martin Corp F-35A fighter jets ready for combat, marking a major milestone for a programme that has faced cost overruns and delays.

The action is another achievement for the $379 billion programme, the Pentagon's largest weapons project. The Air Force's decision follows one by the U.S. Marine Corps in July 2015 declaring a first squadron of F-35s ready for combat.

"The U.S. Air Force decision to make the 15 F-35As ... combat ready sends a simple and powerful message to America's friends and foes alike - the F-35 can do its mission," the programme's chief, Air Force Lieutenant General Chris Bogdan, said in a statement.

Dan Grazier, a fellow of the Project On Government Oversight, said, however, "This is nothing but a public relations stunt." He added that it would not be possible to know if the F-35 jets were ready for combat until after initial operational testing.

"The programme is not doing everything they wanted it to do ... But they're at a point now where it is stabilizing and so it is progress," said Todd Harrison, a defence analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies

Officials say the F-35 will give the U.S. military the ability to detect enemy aircraft and other threats far beyond current ranges, allowing the jets to strike targets and disappear long before they are detected.

The U.S. Air Force plans to buy a total of 1,763 F-35A conventional takeoff and landing jets in coming years and will operate the largest F-35 fleet in the world.

Air Force General Herbert Carlisle, commander of Air Combat Command, said work to upgrade the jet would continue in areas such as software, making the displays more intuitive and boosting the ability to share information between aircraft.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-lo...018&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook

how about they combat test it in isis bombing...

 

[bmasters1993]

Do they usually fly a new model in exercises first or is IOC declaration legit combat readiness?

 

[MadSquabbles500]

Took them long enough, but aint it time for an even more advanced plane that will put this one to shame?

They can always sell to the Chinese.

 

[Abezal]

Took them long enough, but aint it time for an even more advanced plane that will put this one to shame?

They can always sell to the Chinese.

why would Chinese buy it if they got the blueprints for free ?

 

[MadSquabbles500]

why would Chinese buy it if they got the blueprints for free ?

If they do, then I guess they wont.