F-35A Lightning II Standup Complete at Hill AFB’s 388th, 419th Fighter Wings

Jan. 8, 2020

By By Micah Garbarino, 75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

Source U.S. Air Force

F-35A Lightning II aircraft sit on the flightline during an exercise at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, Jan. 6, 2020. A little more than four years after receiving their first combat-coded F-35A aircraft, Hill AFB’s fighter wings have achieved full warfighting capability. The exercise demonstrated the ability to employ a large force of F-35As – testing readiness in the areas of personnel accountability, aircraft generation, ground operations, flight operations and combat capability against air and ground targets.

HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah (AFNS) --

A little more than four years after receiving their first combat-coded F-35A Lightning II aircraft, Hill Air Force Base's fighter wings have achieved full warfighting capability.

The term describes a set of focus areas within the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings: fully trained pilots and maintainers, a full complement of 78 aircraft and the mission and support equipment needed to fly.

While the designation of full warfighting capability is an important milestone, the wing has been combat capable since the Air Force declared initial operational capability in August 2016. Since then, the wings have participated in several large combat exercises, deployed twice to Europe and once to the Pacific and supported two Middle East combat deployments, including one short-notice tasking.

“Every training opportunity, exercise and deployment we’ve completed over the past four years has been a key stepping stone in reaching full warfighting capability,” said Col. Steven Behmer, 388th Fighter Wing commander. “This is just the beginning of sustained F-35A combat operations and we will remain focused on staying ready to deploy whenever, wherever we’re needed.”