The F-35A Is Headed Back To The Middle East After A Smashing First Combat Deployment

The F-35A Joint Strike Fighter is preparing to see its second round of combat for the second time this year. Men and women from the 388th, and 419 fighter Wings have redeployed to the Middle East, taking the F-35 into the theater again. Reports from the first deployment were terrific, and the aircraft lived up to the hype that has surrounded it.

The 4th Fighter Squadron returned to Utah just two weeks ago from a 6-month deployment to Al Dhafra in the United Arab Emirates, which was the very first combat deployment for the advanced stealth fighter that is projected to take the place of most other aging fighter aircraft in the U.S. military's inventory. The results from the first deployment were so encouraging that the USAF is cycling the airplanes and crews right back.

According to a report by Defense Blog, the active-duty 388th Fighter Wing and USAF Reserve 419th Fighter Wing are the only units at this time that fly and maintain the aircraft. The two units have been training together and keeping the planes in a total force partnership, unlike any ever seen across the military. This marks one of the very first times that an active duty military unit and its reserve counterparts work together seamlessly.

The F-35a is the conventional model of the fighter aircraft that uses a typical runway to take off and land. It is not capable of vertical takeoff and landing. There is a model used by the Marines that has this capability, but it is not combat active.

The F-35 can carry out a variety of missions in any theater of action. The first use of the F-35 proved to be successful to the U.S. military and its allies. Having the most advanced fighter aircraft in the world stationed in the area sends a message to everyone in the region.

In the year 2020, we will see more of the stealth aircraft move into active-duty units, including naval units and the Marines. The USAF will also be transitioning a full squadron of the aircraft to Alaska by the end of the year. An Air Force told International Business Times that the military's method of ramping up and inserting the aircraft into the service is a new process that has never been implemented before. So far, things are working out great.