On August 21, the U.S. Air Force announced through an official statement that it now fields a fleet of 500 F-35A stealth fighters, the most recent aircraft having been delivered to the 125th Fighter Wing (FW) of the Florida Air National Guard, operating out of Jacksonville Air Base. For this unit, it represents the third fifth-generation aircraft at its disposal, marking the ongoing transition from the older F-15C/D to the more modern Lockheed Martin fighters.
Providing some additional details, the 500th F-35A is the one bearing serial number AF 22-5817, which arrived at the base on July 9 and carries the insignia of the 125th FW, Air National Guard logos, and thunderbolt symbols in reference to the unit’s nickname. It should be recalled that the wing in question has only one squadron (the 159th), whose commander, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Pasko, piloted one of the three F-35As delivered to the base.
Lt. Col. Pasko stated: “These new F-35s, including the 500th for the Air Force, represent the cutting edge of fifth-generation airpower. We look forward to playing a key role in potential future conflicts, and our citizen airmen are ready to answer the nation’s call—anytime, anywhere.” To be prepared for the arrival of these new aircraft and to carry out its mission, the base also received new buildings equipped with simulators, a new weapons loading facility, and minor improvements such as upgraded hangar ventilation.
Furthermore, the arrival of the first F-35As in Jacksonville is part of a broader modernization plan to replace the F-15C/D fleet, with these aircraft serving as a familiarization step with the new platform for both pilots and maintenance crews. Alongside the 125th FW, the Air National Guard has also supplied fifth-generation aircraft to the 158th Fighter Wing in Vermont, the 115th in Wisconsin, and the 187th in Alabama.
The newly delivered F-35As will also allow the 125th FW to operate with greater interoperability with other U.S. forces stationed in the Southeast. In detail, the state of Florida also hosts units from the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, including Naval Station Mayport and Naval Air Station Jacksonville, as well as the Air Force’s Tyndall and Eglin bases. For this reason, the southern state constitutes one of the main hubs of joint power projection within the U.S. homeland.
As Brigadier General Richard L. Coffey, current commander of the Florida Air National Guard, expressed: “The Guard’s ability to deploy fifth-generation aircraft into key regions gives combatant commanders the reach, resilience, and rapid response they need. Jacksonville’s strategic location and joint partnerships expand Air Force options and ensure our airmen remain at the forefront of our nation’s defense.”
*Cover image: Sgt. Jacob Hancock
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