F-35A Makes Its Combat Debut; Thrills Military World With Warfare Execution

The F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter has just completed its first combat deployment. The US Air Force announced that the 388^th fighter squadron and the Air Force Reserve 419th fighter wings returned home following a six-month deployment to Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates.

While on deployment to the theater of action, the advanced tactical aircraft participated in support missions and regional threat deterrent against the aggressors for the Air Force Central Command Mission in the region. This is the first time that the sleek aircraft has tested its legs in combat, Defense Blog reported.

By all accounts, the deployment was a success. As echoed by the crews that manned the aircraft. “We showed that we deserved a seat at the table just like any other fighter,” said Lieutenant Colonel Joshua Arki, the 4th fighter squadron commander.

This was a perfect opportunity for the United States to demonstrate its new aircraft to its allies. The F-35A is the primary version of the Joint Strike Fighter that takes off and lands like most other aircraft. Other variants have vertical takeoff and landing or VTOL. Such aircraft are usually used by the Marine Corps and the Navy.

Likewise, the arrival of F-35A is a perfect opportunity for active-duty pilots and maintenance crews to train alongside their reserve counterparts. By doing so, they will improve their communication and workflow between the two rungs of the ladder that fall under the same command though their roles are typically different.

There were no losses or major mishaps reported during the deployment, Defense Blog added. In the report, Major Glendon Bute, 419th aircraft maintenance squadron commander stated, “there's a lot of pride in being the first operational Air Force F-35 units in the fight and working together has set the tone for a Joint Strike Fighter units to come.”

It would appear to be accurate because the Air Force is staging more reserve units in conjunction with active-duty units so that the same training schedules maintenance routines. The structure can be utilized by both portions of the Air Force. The F-35A Will be phased into more units shortly as older aircraft are cycled out and retired.