The first two F-35A strike fighters assigned to Nellis AFB, Nev., arrived this week at the desert base, announced Nellis officials. The airplanes, which will serve as developmental and operational test assets, touched down at Nellis on March 6, according to a base release. They will fly with the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron, which will be the first unit to conduct F-35 operational testing, Nellis officials have said. Nellis’ F-35A test force is scheduled to grow 12 aircraft, and the base’s Fighter Weapons School is slated to build up to a fleet of 24 F-35As. (Nellis photo caption by A1C Jason Couillard) (See also Thirty-six F-35s for Nellis.)
Aircraft readiness will suffer if Congress does not approve some $1.5 billion worth of spare parts the Air Force requested in its annual Unfunded Priorities List, sent to Capitol Hill last week, Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said.