A U.S. Air Force weapons load crew assigned to the 33rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron loads a live AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAM) into an F-35A January 31, 2017, at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The 33rd Fighter Wing loaded and shot the first air-to-air missiles from an F-35A during a weapons system evaluation that took place at Tyndall Air Force Base later the same day. Carrying air-to-air missiles makes the F-35 a more versatile option for combatant commanders by securing the aircrafts survivability, in turn increasing likeliness of mission success. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Peter Thompson)
