Page 10 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt 10-23-15

Oct. 23, 2015 NEWS Thunderbolt
http://www.luke.af.mil
10 www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb

Hill commemorates new era in combat air power

+,//$,5)25&(%$6(8WDK³Hill Air Force Base against our foes, we need the F-35 now more than ever.”
Utah Senator Mike Lee described modernization as a key
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ingredient in America’s success in defeating its adversaries.
F-35 Lightning II at a ceremony Oct. 14, an event that “The success of the U.S. armed services has always de-

formally marked the beginning of F-35 operations for the pended not only on the extraordinary bravery of our men
and women in uniform, but also on the superiority of our
WKDQGWKÀJKWHUZLQJV technology,” Lee said. “In one theater after another we
haven’t just out-fought our enemy, we’ve also out-innovated
Members of the Utah congressional delegation, Lockheed our enemy, and that’s been a key to our success. When
it comes to innovating, testing, training, maintaining
Martin, and the Air Force addressed a crowd of more than America’s aircraft, missiles and avionics, northern Utah
has long been our nation’s leader.”
500 people, which included Airmen and their families, lo-
Col. Bryan Radliff, 419th FW commander, noted in his
cal civic leaders and the media. Col. David Lyons, 388th closing remarks that those making history don’t realize it
until after the moment has passed.
Fighter Wing commander, said he was blown away with
“We are honored to be a part of history. Today we pause to
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PRQWKRIÁ\LQJ and steadfast, our past is robust, but it is your resolute
support which allows us to pour our hearts and souls into
´6LQFH6HSWZH·YHÁRZQRXUQHZMHWVKDUG:H·YHÁRZQ Courtesy photo ushering in the next chapter in American aviation excep-
tionalism - the F-35.”
advanced handling sorties, pushing the jets further than An F-35A Lightning II aircraft is bathed in light during
HDUOLHU YHUVLRQV :H·YH DOVR ÁRZQ EDVLF VXUIDFH DWWDFN an unveiling ceremony Oct. 14 at Hill Air Force Base, 2Q'HF+LOO$)%ZDVVHOHFWHGWRKRVWWKHÀUVW
air-to-air intercepts, opposed surface attack and light sup- Utah. The unveiling commemorated the arrival of the $LU)RUFHFRPEDWXQLWVWRÁ\FRPEDWFRGHG)V7KHMHW
pression of enemy air defenses,” Lyons said. “The airplanes /LJKWQLQJ,,WRWKHEDVH7KHWKDQGWK¿JKWHU ZKLFKDUULYHGDW+LOORQ6HSWLVWKHÀUVWRIVFKHGXOHG
have met all our expectations in the air, but notably, we ZLQJVDW+LOOZHUHVHOHFWHGDVWKH¿UVW$LU)RUFHXQLWVWR to arrive by 2019. The 388th FW currently has three F-
KDYHQRWORVWDVLQJOHÁLJKWWRDPDLQWHQDQFHUHODWHGLV- À\FRPEDWFRGHG)V 35s, with one or two scheduled to be delivered each month
sue thus far. Obviously we can’t stay perfect forever, but through 2019.
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is increasing. Not only will the F-35s advanced capabilities Earlier this year, the reactivation of the 34th Fighter
a workhorse.” Squadron marked an historic milestone for the Air Force,
A common theme addressed by many of the speakers allow us to operate effectively in the anti-access, aerial DVWKHXQLWEHFDPHWKHÀUVWRSHUDWLRQDO$LU)RUFHXQLWWR
was the increased threat environment around the world, denial environment, but the F-35 is a force multiplier. It Á\FRPEDWFRGHG)V
and the need for air superiority to meet that threat. Com- makes every other airplane in the battlespace that much
mander of Air Combat Command Gen. Hawk Carlisle said EHWWHUEHFDXVHRIZKDWLWEULQJVWRWKHÀJKWµ Courtesy of af.mil
the security challenges we face today are the greatest we’ve Utah’s senior senator Orrin Hatch said Americans are
faced in our nation’s history, and that the F-35 is key to blessed to live in a nation that protects its cherished free-
doms and liberties, and that the F-35 makes those liberties
keeping America on top of the threat.
“The current state of world affairs represents the most even more secure.
complex and challenging environment our nation has ever “This weapons system will be a powerful deterrent to
faced with respect to national security challenges across the those enemies who would tear down our freedom, and
spectrum,” Carlisle said. “The capability over our adversar- destroy our peace,” Hatch said. “In protecting our nation

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