20 Oct 2018

President Trump visits Luke AFB

President Donald J. Trump visited Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, Oct. 19, to discuss military weapons and technology capabilities and learn about the 56th Fighter Wing’s pilot training mission.

5 Oct 2018

New tech to ease F-35A flight line maintenance

Maintainers on Hill Air Force Base’s flight line are beginning to utilize new high-tech, hand-held tablets to work on the F-35A Lightning II, the United States’ most advanced multi-role fighter aircraft.

3 Aug 2018

Hill AFB Airmen, aircraft progress together as F-35A program matures

Two years after the Air Force declared initial operational capability for the F-35A Lightning II, pilots and maintainers at Hill Air Force Base’s active duty 388th and reserve 419th Fighter Wings are steadily erasing the word “initial” from in front of “operational capability.”

24 Jul 2018

South Korean Air Force F-35A pilot takes first flight

The first South Korean Air Force F-35A pilot soared into history when he took to the skies July 20, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona.

15 Jun 2018

Edwards AFB squadron completes Joint Strike Missile test program

A team of U.S. Air Force engineers, test pilots, and Norwegian government and industry personnel recently completed a large phase of testing for the Joint Strike Missile. The JSM is Norway’s advanced anti-surface warfare missile designed for the new F-35A Lighting II’s internal weapons bay. The missile can be employed against sea- and land-based targets. Norway is a partner nation in the development of the fifth-generation Joint Strike Fighter.

21 Dec 2017

AF selects locations for next two Air National Guard F-35 bases

The Air Force has selected Truax Field Air National Guard Base, Wisconsin and Dannelly Field, Alabama as the preferred locations for the next two Air National Guard F-35A bases.

11 Dec 2017

Hill AFB F-35A maintainers passing the Pacific TSP test

Five weeks into the first F-35A Pacific Theater Security Package deployment the 34th Aircraft Maintenance Unit team is at full stride. Maintainers in the Pacific location and in Utah, home of the 34th AMU under the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings are coming together to make the first TSP a success and to fulfill lofty expectations of themselves and of the Air Force’s newest stealth fighter. “Everyone associated with the 34th Fighter Squadron and AMU alike, make a really great team, and that’s good because we have a lot to accomplish while we’re here,” said Capt. Christina Merritt, 34th Expeditionary Maintenance Unit officer in charge. “I’m so happy to be here. We’re showing the world what we’re made of and what the F-35A can do.”

28 Nov 2017

Hill AFB’s F-35A, Airmen mastering first Pacific deployment

More than 300 men and women of the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings out of Hill Air Force Base, Utah and 12 F-35A Lightning IIs are conducting business for the next six months on the subtropical Japanese island of Okinawa during a deployment known as a Theater Security Package.

27 Nov 2017

Around the Air Force: Nov. 24

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (AFNS) – On this look around the Air Force, Chief Master Sgt. Amy Giaquinto becomes the first woman to serve as the top enlisted advisor to the adjutant general of New York, Air Force F-35As are in Japan for the first time and the Air Force’s Personnel Center is accepting applications for the Nurse Enlisted and Direct

24 Oct 2017

F-35A scheduled for first operational deployment to Indo-Asia-Pacific

Approximately 300 Airmen and 12 F-35A Lightning IIs from Hill Air Force Base, Utah’s 34th Fighter Squadron are set to deploy to Kadena Air Base, Japan for a six month rotation. The aircraft and supporting personnel are scheduled to arrive at Kadena AB in early November 2017.

20 Oct 2017

Hill AFB maintainers support F-35A first Asia appearance during Seoul ADEX 17

Twenty-seven Hill Air Force Base maintainers and accompanying support equipment loaded into a C-17 Globemaster III Oct. 13, 2017, bound for Northeast Asia’s largest air show to support the F-35A Lightning II’s first time on Asian soil.

16 Oct 2017

US forces to participate in Seoul ADEX 2017

The U.S. military will be represented at the 2017 Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition, or Seoul ADEX 17, at Seoul Airport, South Korea, Oct. 17-22, 2017.

18 Aug 2017

Around the Air Force: Aug. 18

On this look Around the Air Force Airmen at Hill Air Force Base , Utah, fly F-35A Lightning IIs in support of exercise Combat Hammer, Airmen at Misawa Air Base, Japan, train with Japanese Pararescuemen for exercise Cope Angel, and the promotion results for staff sergeant are in. Hosted by Staff. Sgt. Anastasia Tompkins.

19 Jul 2017

Around the Air Force: July 19

On this look around the Air Force a Wounded Warrior receives the Pat Tillman award at the ESPYs, a medical exercise in Minnesota provides free healthcare for local residents, and Red Flag 17-3 features F-35s from both the Air Force and the Marine Corps. Hosted by Tech. Sgt. Robbie Arp.

14 Jun 2017

Fighter wings successfully field test F-35A ammunition loader

The 388th Fighter Wing, the Air Force’s first F-35 Lightning II operational wing, recently received five F-35A bulk ammunition loaders for field use. Airmen extensively tested one of the loaders June 6-9, 2017, during an engineering validation and verification evaluation here.

15 May 2017

Air Force to Release F-35 Weight Restrictions

Air Force leaders recently removed the restriction that kept pilots weighing less than 136 pounds from flying the F-35A. The restriction was imposed in 2015 due to concerns about the risk during ejections in a portion of the flight envelope.

8 May 2017

F-35 complete first European training deployment

Eight F-35A Lightning IIs from the 34th Fighter Squadron, along with supporting units and equipment from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, completed the first F-35A training deployment to Europe, May 7, 2017.

17 Apr 2017

F-35A deployment brings advanced airpower capability to Europe

This weekend’s deployment of an initial six F-35A Lightning II fighters and several hundred Airmen to Europe demonstrates the aircraft’s readiness to conduct operations with America’s European partners, according to Air Force leaders.

23 Jan 2017

Hill AFB fighter wings bring first F-35A to Red Flag

Pilots and maintainers from the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings deployed the F-35A Lightning II to Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Jan. 20, 2017 for exercise Red Flag. This is the first deployment to Red Flag for the F-35A and the first large movement since the Air Force declared the jet combat ready in August 2016.

21 Jan 2017

AETC loads, releases first live bombs from F-35A

The 33rd Fighter Wing loaded and released the Air Education and Training Command’s first live bombs from an F-35A here, Jan. 17, 2017. In total, six aircraft were loaded with armed GBU-12s, and two bombs were released over the Eglin Air Force Base range.