F-35As from the 34th Fighter Squadron had to turn on their transponders so that air defense units could track them during a recent exercise at Mountain Home Air Force Base.
By Todd Cromar [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The unit had to demonstrate the stealth fighter is capable of suppression and destruction of enemy air defense as part of the evaluation process to declare Initial Operational Capability on the A-model.
“They couldn’t target us,” said Lt. Col. George Watkins, the commander of the 34th Fighter Squadron