The 34th Fighter Squadron at Hill Air Force Base is on course to achieve initial operational capability (IOC) on Aug. 1 and one of the items on the checklist for that is to drop a laser-guided bomb.
By Todd Cromar [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The squadron plans to do that in February or March with the release of an inert GBU-12 at the Utah Test and Training Range, Flight Global reports.
March is also the time when the unit will start flying together in four-ship formations. At the moment, the pilots are getting acquainted on four-ship tactics using simulators.
An Mountain Home AFB will be the playground for the squadron to test its ability to deploy abroad. The deployment is expected to occur in a few-months time.