U.S. Air Force Declares F-35 Stealth Fighter Ready for War

Dave Majumdar

F-35, United States

“I am proud to announce this powerful new weapons system has achieved initial combat capability (IOC).”

The United States Air Force has officially declared its version of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter operational earlier today. The Air Force version will fly operationally with frontline squadrons in an interim Block 3i configuration that affords the new stealth fighter limited ability to conduct interdiction, close air support and suppression of enemy air defenses.

“I am proud to announce this powerful new weapons system has achieved initial combat capability (IOC),” Gen. Herbert “Hawk” Carlisle said in a statement. “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.”

With the jet being declared operational, the Air Force has enough pilots and maintainers trainers to deploy the F-35A with an operational squadron of between 12 and 24 aircraft. The service currently has a unit of 15 aircraft that are ready for combat operations at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. “The U.S. Air Force decision to make the 15 F-35As at Hill Air Force Base combat ready sends a simple and powerful message to America’s friends and foes alike – the F-35 can do its mission,” said Air Force Lt. Gen. Chris Bogdan, program executive officer for the F-35 Joint Program Office, in a statement. “The declaration of initial operational capability marks an important milestone as the Air Force will operate the largest F-35 fleet in the world with more than 1,700 aircraft.  The F-35 will form the backbone of air combat superiority for decades and enable warfighters to see adversaries first and take decisive action.”