Air Force ACC chief declares F-35A ready for initial operations

By Courtney Albon / August 2, 2016 at 3:45 PM
The chief of Air Force Air Combat Command has declared initial operational capability for the service's variant of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, saying the aircraft is prepared to deploy in combat if needed and noting that he expects the aircraft will begin to conduct training missions in the European and Pacific theaters within 18 months. "If a combatant commander called me and requested the capabilities that the F-35 possesses, I would in fact deploy it," Gen. Herbert Carlisle told...

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