As it currently stands, aerospace giant Lockheed Martin has delivered more than 1,200 F-35 Lightning IIs in all three variants all across the world. In spite of technical problems with the aircraft and repeated delays, that number keeps rising. On Thursday, it was announced that the 500th F-35A, the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant of the F-35, had been delivered to the Florida Air National Guard’s 125th Fighter Wing at Jacksonville Air National Guard Base, Florida, the previous month. It will be one of three Lightning II fifth-generation stealth fighters permanently assigned to the unit as it continues to make its multi-year transition from its F-15C/D Eagles.

According to the unit, it features the “legacy tail flash” of the 125th Fighter Wing, “The Thunder,” a dark blue tail stripe with the word “Florida” in white letters, accompanied by a lightning bolt. The Thunder has been active since July 1956, and is now the fourth ANG unit to operate the F-35A, joining the ranks of Vermont’s 158th FW, Alabama’s 187th FW, and Wisconsin’s 115th FW.

The 125th FW is now one of nine Air Force units to operate the fighter.

“These new........

© The National Interest