US Intensifies Advanced Fighter Buildup Near Arctic as 1st F-35s Arrive in Alaska
23 Apr 2020
Military.com | By Oriana Pawlyk
The U.S. Air Force has permanently stationed its first F-35A Joint Strike Fighter aircraft in the Pacific.
The 354th Fighter Wing at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, accepted its first two Lightning II aircraft Tuesday. The aircraft are already gearing up for joint training alongside their stealth fighter cousin, the F-22 Raptor, also stationed in the region, according to a service news release.
"When you station the F-35 at Eielson and you have the F-22 Raptor down at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, working together in the [Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex] with our 18th Aggressor Squadron and ground training assets, you have the perfect training field for the F-35 to develop," said Col. Benjamin Bishop, commander of the 354th Fighter Wing.
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/04/23/us-intensifies-advanced-fighter-buildup-near-arctic-1st-f-35s-arrive-alaska.html
