It’s time to check whether hell has frozen over, because the F-35 has actually flown a combat mission! To be clear: The Israeli version of the F-35 is now operational. The U.S. military’s F-35s are still living on a couch in their parents’ basement.
- Israel is the first country in the world to use the F-35 for combat operations, the head of the Israeli air force said on Tuesday, according to Haaretz.
- “The F-35 squadron has become an operational squadron,” the newspaper quoted Israeli Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin as saying. “We are flying the F-35 all over the Middle East.”
- The Israeli F-35s took part in two airstrikes in Syria, according to Haaretz, which also reported the Israeli air force is still determining how best to use the aircraft.
- Israel plans to buy at least 50 F-35s, Defense News reported on Tuesday. The Israeli version of the F-35 is called “Adir,” or “Mighty One.”
- The Marine Corp’s version of the F-35 will deploy to the U.S. Central Command theater of responsibility this fall aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex along with 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Get some, Marines. Get some!
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