The 325th FW deployed to Hill AFB to test and evaluate the F-35A Lightning II's air-to-ground precision-guided munitions capability using live ordnance.
The exercise tested the unit's ability to generate and sustain F-35A Lightning II combat airpower in a simulated, contested Indo-Pacific environment.
Airmen assigned to the 187th Fighter Wing, known as the Red Tails, trained to generate and sustain F-35A Lightning II combat airpower under pressure during Operation Tuskegee Thunder at Dannelly Field, Ala.
The F-35 Lightning II has been in production since 2006 and is operated by the U.S., Japan, South Korea, and many NATO members.
The 35th Fighter Wing unveiled its new fleet of F-35A Lightning II fighters, an integral move as the Air Force modernizes its squadrons in Asia.
The “new” Kearsarge has near-perfect paint, upgraded galley and gym, and a gleaming flight deck that can now support the F-35B Lightning II.
U.S. and Chilean Air Force (FACh) crews demonstrated advanced interoperability April 4, 2026, executing the first-ever Chilean KC-135 Stratotanker air-to-air refueling of two U.S. F-35A Lightning II aircraft—marking a significant step forward in bilateral airpower integration.
Stealth fighters arrived at Misawa Air Base, the first replacements the Air Force pledged for the F-16 Fighting Falcons stationed there.
The F-35A Lightning II aircraft arrived at Misawa Air Base, Japan, a permanent stationing that marks the 13th Fighter Squadron's transition to fifth-generation airpower.
The arrival supports the Department of the Air Force’s modernization efforts and demonstrates the United States’ ironclad commitment to the defense of Japan and sustaining peace through strength in the Indo-Pacific.