The U.S. Air Force has received its 100th Lockheed Martin-built F-35 with the fighter aircraft’s delivery to Luke Air Force Base in Arizona Friday.The service branch said Saturday the milestone follows the declaration of initial operational capability on the F-35 Lightning II program and activation of the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke AFB.
“There are going to be more F-35s than any other fighter platform, and all that training starts right here at Luke AFB,” said Brig. Gen. Brook Leonard, commander of the Air Force’s 56th Fighter Wing.
The base’s F-35 fleet now has more than 40 aircraft and includes the fighter jets of partner nations such as Australia and Norway, the Air Force noted.
The service branch added the arrival of the 100th F-35 builds on Luke AFB’s efforts to transition into the only active-duty Air Force F-35 training base.
According to Leonard, the activation of Luke AFB’s third F-35 unit called the 63rd Fighter Squadron also puts the base closer to its goal to establish six squadrons.
