U.S. Air Force clears F-35 for combat takeoff
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F-35A "Lighting II" / Courtesy of Twitter
By Lee Han-soo
The U.S. Air Force has declared the controversial F-35A “Lightning II” stealth fighter ready for combat.
It said the jet has met initial operational capabilities (IOC), the minimum requirement in combat, search and logistics for any weapon before being deployed.
“The F-35A will take us to places where our previous fighters could not,” Herbert Carlisle, commander of U.S. air combat command, said. “This will give our generals the required abilities that are needed in modern warfare.”
The F-35A will make up 75 percent of the F-35 fighter variations planned for the U.S. military. Other variations include the F-35B for the Marines and the F-35C for the navy. The U.S. plans to invest $391 billion into the project.
The clearing of the IOC will expedite production of the F-35A and its combat deployment.
The F-35A has an operational range of 2,222 kilometers, can reach mach 1.6 (1,958 kilometers per hour), has a 25-millimeter automatic cannon and an additional 8.16 ton weapons payload.
South Korea plans to buy 40 F-35A fighter jets for 7 trillion won ($6 billion) over four years from 2018.
The F-35 has been mired in controversy for its high price -- $98 million a jet -- and software and engine problems.