Capt. Joshua Arki, the first F-16 pilot to transition to F-35s at Luke AFB, Ariz., recently began training on the base’s future airframe at Eglin AFB, Fla., base officials announced. “Captain Arki has a lot riding on his shoulders,” said 62nd Fighter Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Shamsher Mann, in a Jan. 17 release. “On those shoulders rests the initial trajectory of the combat training effectiveness of the F-35 when it arrives at Luke.” Arki is currently the 62nd FS chief of weapons and tactics and former F-16 instructor. “I’m learning a lot from the Eglin instructors, and hope to bring back to Luke many of their lessons learned,” said Arki. After returning in March, Arki will begin “defining new tactics for a new fighter while building the initial crop of F-35 pilots for the Air Force,” said Shamsher. The first of Luke’s eventual 144 F-35As are due to arrive early this year.
Golden Dome Details Begin to Emerge
Dec. 7, 2025
The Golden Dome air and missile defense shield to protect the United States will have some “operational capability” in 2028, the program’s leader said Dec. 6 at the Reagan National Defense Forum.
