The US Air Force (USAF) has deployed the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) to the Middle East for the first time.
US Air Force Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters and their supporting Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker transit through Spain en route to their first Middle East deployment. (William Jardim)
The US Air Forces Central Command (AFCENT) announced on 15 April that an undisclosed number of aircraft from the active duty 388th Fighter Wing (FW) and reserve 419th FW at Hill Air Force Base (AFB) in Utah had been deployed to Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates.
As noted by the commander of AFCENT, Lieutenant General Joseph T Guastella, the F-35A’s fifth-generation capabilities of stealth and sensor fusion “significantly enhances the capability of the coalition”.
The multirole F-35A is currently being operated in the Block 3F (full combat capability) configuration. As such, it is cleared to carry a range of air-to-air and air-to-surface weaponry in two internal bays and on 11 external hardpoints. Weapons include GBU-12; GBU-31/32 1,000 lb/2,000 lb Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs); GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB); JSOW)-C1; AIM-120C Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM); and AIM-9X infrared guided short-range air-to-air missile. The aircraft is also equipped with an internal GAU-22 25 mm cannon.
AFCENT did not disclose how long the deployment would last.
Looking to read the full article?
Gain unlimited access to Janes news and more...
