US F-35As will conduct air training over the next several weeks with other Europe-based aircraft in support of the European Reassurance Initiative, marking the first overseas training deployment of the type.
The US Air Force F-35As declared IOC in August last year and the deployment to RAF Lakenheath in England has been long-planned. The aim is to allow pilots and maintainers to familiarise themselves with the European operating environment and improve interoperability of the fifth generation fighter.
Video: F-35As from the 34th Fighter Squadron, 388th Fighter Wing and the Air Force Reserve’s 466th Fighter Squadron, 419th Fighter Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah arrive at RAF Lakenheath. Credit: Staff Sgt. Armando Aparicio, Senior Airman Gabriela Keiser and Senior Airman Elizabeth Taranto, USAF 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
“This is an incredible opportunity for USAF in Europe (USAFE) airmen and our NATO allies to host this first overseas training deployment of the F-35A aircraft,” USAFE commander General Tod Wolters said. “As we and our joint F-35 partners bring this aircraft into our inventories, it’s important that we train together to integrate into a seamless team capable of defending the sovereignty of allied nations.”
It will also assist in refining requirements for eventually basing the aircraft in Europe from the 2020s.
The US Marine Corps is already operating F-35B variants in two IOC squadrons from Iwakuni in Japan since deploying there early this year.