Combat Aviator on MSN

F-35 Combat Lessons: Airmen Honored for ‘Midnight Hammer’ an

When Lt. Col. Aaron Osborne and his F-35 squadron penetrated Iranian airspace in June 2025, they weren’t just executing ...
Stars and Stripes

Italy to be site of first F-35 pilot training school outside US

NAPLES, Italy — An Italian air base in Sicily will host the first F-35 Lightning II pilot training facility outside the U.S., an indication of NATO’s increasing demand for the fifth-generation fighter ...
The National Interest

Italy Is Planning to Build the First F-35 Training Center Outside the United States

Reports indicate that the Italian Air Force expects the new pilot school to be up and running within the next year. Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto recently announced that his nation would ...
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Military and civilian officials celebrate graduation of first pilots from F-35 international training program

FORT SMITH -- Unlike most days, the roar at Ebbing Air National Guard Base on Friday came from a crowd instead of a jet engine. A crowd of military members, foreign representatives, and local and ...
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Fort Smith’s Ebbing base set to host F-35 training

FORT SMITH -- Two Polish F-35 Lightning II aircraft arrived Monday at Ebbing Air National Guard Base. "Poland is a great friend of the U.S. and a strategic ally. We are happy to support and train ...
Flightglobal

First Polish F-35s depart Lockheed factory for pilot training work in Arkansas

Poland has reached a critical milestone in its quest to field a modern force of fighter aircraft. The NATO member’s first two Lockheed Martin F-35As have departed Lockheed’s final assembly and ...
Arizona Daily Star

Luke beats out TIA for F-35 training site

The Department of Defense has chosen Luke Air Force Base in Glendale for the new pilot-training center for F-35 fighters, officials said Wednesday. The base west of Phoenix was competing with bases in ...
The National Interest

The 56th Fighter Wing Is Ending F-16 Training—And Starting On The F-35

Luke AFB has been home to both F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-35A Lightning II aircraft, and graduates more than 400 pilots annually, along with 300 air control professionals. The United States Air Force ...