F-35A

Latest in F-35A

U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Group conduct pre-flight checks on a KC-135 Stratotanker before it departs during Operation Agile Spartan at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Aug. 19, 2023. The large-scale exercise reinforced the U.S. commitment to its regional partners across the Middle East through developing and maintaining missions in unpredictable ways, rapidly responding to the needs of joint and coalition commanders. The month-long, multinational operation demonstrated interoperability between regional partners, improved response capabilities, and further enhanced security throughout the region.

Tankers Vacate Al Udeid Air Base As U.S. Citizens Are Urged To Leave Israel Immediately (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 27, 2026

USS Ford heads to Israel. (U.S. Navy photo)

USS Gerald R. Ford’s Imminent Arrival Off Israel Comes As Negotiations Grind On

By Howard Altman

Posted on Feb 26, 2026

U.S. Airmen assigned to the Florida Air National Guard’s 125th Fighter Wing arrive for Agile Combat Employment (ACE) training at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, Feb. 10, 2026. The 125th Fighter Wing accelerated its readiness timeframe ahead of a mission conversion deadline by deploying eight F-35A Lightning II aircraft, establishing joint-component interoperability with two active-duty U.S. Air Force units under the ACE concept.

Former Air Force Fighter Pilot And F-35 Instructor Charged With Training Chinese Military

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 26, 2026

F-35A stealth fighters from the Vermont Air National Guard are moving cl;oser to the Middle East amid an ongoing U.S. military buildup there.

F-35A Stealth Fighters Moving Closer To Middle East As U.S. Military Buildup Continues

By Howard Altman

Posted on Feb 10, 2026

The Navy is now flying F-35As for test and evaluation purposes.

Navy Is Flying Air Force F-35A Joint Strike Fighters

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jan 27, 2026

F-35A Joint Strike Fighters from the Vermon Air National Guard's 158th Fighter Wing have arrived in Puerto Rico for Operation Southern Spear.

USAF F-35As Have Arrived In The Caribbean

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 20, 2025

A top Canadian Air Force general breaks down the role of his nation's future F-35A stealh fighters and the challenges of integrating them into the force and NORAD.

Canadian NORAD Commander’s View On Future F-35 Fighter Force

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 18, 2025

An F-35A from Hill Air Force Base Utah, takes off during the evaluation in Switzerland in 2019.

Swiss Poised To Slash F-35 Order As Costs Mount

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 12, 2025

U.S. Air Force HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopters, assigned to the 943d Rescue Group, conduct helicopter air-to-air refueling with an HC-130J Combat King II aircraft,

Combat Rescue Aircraft, Tankers Arrive In Caribbean As U.S. Military Buildup Accelerates

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Dec 12, 2025

F-35A Lighting Joint Strike Fighters from the 158th Fighter Wing are headed to take part in Operation Southern Spear.

F-35A Joint Strike Fighters Deploying To Caribbean (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Dec 11, 2025

F-35B UK issues

United Kingdom’s F-35 Program Slammed For Cost-Saving Blunders

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 24, 2025

‘Crew One,’ a three-man weapons load team, completes the first full external loadout with live munitions for the F-35A Lightening II May 3, 2019, at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates. F-35A Lightning IIs assigned to the 4th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron were configured in a full external live loadout of six GBU-49 small glide munitions and two AIM-9x Sidewinder missiles to execute an operation in Southwest Asia.

Impact Of Selling F-35s To Saudi Arabia On The Region

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Nov 20, 2025

An Italian Air Force F-35 Lighting II arrives at an undisclosed location within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, June 30, 2024. The F-35A is an agile, versatile, high-performance, 9g capable multirole fighter that combines stealth, sensor fusion and unprecedented situational awareness. The ITAF stopped in CENTCOM as a part of Operation Indo-Pacific Jump (IPJ) 2024.

F-35 Sale To Saudi Arabia Being Mulled By Trump Admin: Report

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 5, 2025

Two U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs, assigned to the F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team, fly in formation prior to conducting air-to-air refueling over Utah, July 1, 2025. The F-35A Lightning II is the Air Force’s most advanced multirole fighter, capable of conducting both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.

Time Is Running Out For Canada’s Fighter Decision

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 8, 2025

Authorities in Poland say they have assessed that the incursions were not accidental. Polish and Dutch fighters shot down several of the intruding uncrewed aircraft.

After Unprecedented Night Of Downing Drones Over Poland, NATO Reports No Posture Changes (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 10, 2025

Ice buildup in the landing gear of a U.S. Air Force F-35A was the root cause of a crash at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska in January, according to a recently released report on the mishap.

Dramatic F-35 Crash At Alaskan Air Base Caused By Iced-Up Landing Gear

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 26, 2025