First Lightnings at Tyndall
On 21 June 2023, Scramble Magazine first reported that the 325th Fighter Wing will receive their first F-35A Lightning IIs this year.
As expected, the first new fighters touched down at Tyndall AFB (FL). On 1 August 2023, the trio of TY coded F-35As arrived to become part of Tyndall's 325th Fighter Wing "Checkertails". Tyndall has officially transitioned from an air dominance training mission to a fully combat capable Lightning II fighter wing.
Standing up three operational F-35 fighter squadrons at Tyndall (AFB) increases Air Force lethality and combat readiness. It’s a move that aligns with National Defense Strategy objectives to deter and combat aggression for (future) US adversaries.
The 325th Fighter Wing’s prime location labels it as a critical asset due to the direct access to the Eastern Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf Range complex. It is expected that once the fighter squadrons are fully operational, Tyndall aircraft will participate in large-scale exercises aimed at improving interoperability between 4th and 5th-generation fighters as well as joint force operations.
The change in mission set shifts Tyndall AFB into the Air Force Force Generation model, as a lead wing capable of worldwide deployment operations and homeland defense tasks. See the Scramble Magazine news items on USAF's Agile Flag exercise and USAF's Lead Wings follow-up from November 2020 respectively January 2022.
The following TY coded "flagship" F-35As arrived at Tyndall AFB: 18-5416 (as 325OG), 20-5626 (as 325FW) and 20-5627 (as 95FS).
Credit photo: USAF / Credit coin: www.aviatorgear.com