Aircraft
U.S. Air Force F-35 Fighters Arrive in Alaska
The 354th Fighter Wing has become the first wing in Pacific Air Forces to receive the Lockheed Martin F-35A.
The first two F-35As for the 354th FW are escorted into Alaskan airspace on their delivery flight by a pair of F-22As (left) from the 3rd Wing at Elmendorf-Richardson. (Photo: U.S. Air Force)
The first two F-35As for the 354th FW are escorted into Alaskan airspace on their delivery flight by a pair of F-22As (left) from the 3rd Wing at Elmendorf-Richardson. (Photo: U.S. Air Force)

Two Lockheed Martin F-35As touched down at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska on April 21 to begin the equipment of the 354th Fighter Wing (FW) with the type. The unit is the first in the Pacific Air Forces theater command to receive the stealthy fighter after the first pair flew in direct from the Fort Worth, Texas factory with refueling provided by KC-135s. Located in the Fairbanks North Star borough, Eielson is to receive a total of 54 F-35As, with the last scheduled for delivery in December 2021.

Adding F-35As to the 354th FW inventory will make Alaska a concentrated location for stealthy, fifth-generation fighters, with Lockheed Martin F-22As already assigned to the 90th and 525th Fighter Squadrons of the 3rd Wing based at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, near Anchorage.

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