The U.S. Air Force will start operating the Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter in mid-2016, one year earlier than the branch originally planned, Reuters reported Monday.Andrea Shalal-Esa writes the military is testing the jets as they roll off the production line at the contractor’s Fort Worth, Texas facility.
A source told Shalal-Esa the decision intends to give confidence regarding the program to Congress and international partners.
It is about changing the order of battle and truly embracing a integrated form of warfare where the F-35 manages the targeting and directs supporting fire at the same time as providing more precise aim points,” former Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne told Reuters.
Wynne also told Reuters the Air Force wants to learn more about the F-35’s integrated battle management system.
