The F-35 Lightning II, an unparalleled fifth-generation combat aircraft, recently soared into the history books at Luke Air Force Base (AFB) in Arizona, where the 56th Fighter Wing celebrated its 100,000th sortie.

This momentous flight, undertaken by Captain Garrett Ellis of the 308th Fighter Squadron on May 9, 2024, represents a major operational milestone for the F-35 program and showcases its growing maturity.

The 56th Fighter Wing at Luke AFB has the distinction of being the world’s largest F-35 wing and is integral to the training of pilots for combat readiness.

With the program’s expansion, pilots at Luke AFB undergo an intensive regimen including hundreds of academic hours and over 80 simulator and flying missions.

Colonel Matthew Johnston, 56th Operations Group commander, proudly stated, “The 100,000th F-35 sortie here at Luke symbolizes the professional work and excellence of the whole Luke team.”

But the milestone extends beyond flying hours. The 56th Maintenance Group at Luke AFB also received commendation for its decade-long commitment to aircraft maintenance, ensuring that the wing’s F-16s and F-35s are mission-ready.

Colonel Adam DiGerolamo, 56th MXG commander, emphasized the group’s dedication to meeting mission and training requirements, a testament to their sustained effort and achievement in reaching this significant sortie milestone.

Simultaneously, Lockheed Martin celebrated the production of the 1,000th F-35, a testament to the aircraft’s global influence and operational prowess.

“There are now more F-35s in service than all other stealth aircraft combined,” underscoring the broad adoption of the aircraft by multiple allied nations.

In parallel developments, the Pentagon officially cleared the F-35 for full-rate production, a decision that Lockheed Martin has anticipated for years. William LaPlante, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, highlighted the aircraft’s stability and agility in his statement approving the Milestone C decision.

The full-scale production authorization is seen as a nod to the program’s success and a signal to the services, partners, and foreign military sales customers of the F-35’s robust capabilities.

However, this achievement is not without its challenges. The program faces delays related to the integration of the Tech Refresh 3 (TR-3) upgrades, essential for the Block 4 advancements.

Lockheed Martin assured that production continues at a steady rate and that jets, including the milestone 1,000th F-35, await the necessary TR-3 hardware and software before they can be delivered.

Despite these hiccups, the F-35 Lightning II program is a remarkable story of perseverance, advancement, and unprecedented global partnership.

With more than 773,000 flying hours and 469,000 total sorties recorded, the F-35 continues to affirm its place as the most technologically sophisticated fighter jet in service, ready to meet the diverse threats of the modern battlefield.

Relevant articles:
– The F-35 Fighter Just Hit Another Major Milestone: 469,000 Sorties, The National Interest
– Pentagon clears F-35 for full-rate production, defensenews.com
– Lockheed Martin has now built 1,000 F-35s, Sandboxx
– The 1,000th F-35 Has Been Built, The War Zone