U.S. Air Force F-35As are heading to Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho again, but this time, the jets are operational aircraft from the 34th Fighter Squadron.
By Todd Cromar [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The jets are arriving this week and will remain there till Jun. 19. They will be flown and maintain by airmen from the active duty 388th Fighter Wing and Reserve 419th Fighter Wing.
The deployment is part of the requirement in order to declare Initial Operational Capability on the A-model.
Each day, eight sorties will be launched at Mountain Home to test three mission sets – suppression and destruction of enemy air defense, air interdiction missions, and basic close air support.