Hill AFB’s F-35 Program Makes Headway

Hill Air Force Base’s F-35A Lightning II program has progressed since its initial operational capability announcement in August 2016, the service branch said Friday.

The F-35’s new 3F software increases the aircraft’s capacities, including that of its weapons systems, with its flight envelope now reaching nine Gs. The Air Force also worked to bolster the fusion between targeting and mapping systems.

“The aircraft is growing up with young airmen who have grown up in a digital age,” said Chief Master Sgt. Eric Engel, 466th Aircraft Maintenance Unit superintendent.

F-35 maintainers are set to support 40 sorties a day for four consecutive days within this week.

Lt. Col. Yosef Morris, who commands the 4th Fighter Squadron, said that the F-35 has now become more of a multi-role aircraft.