The British air force just sent its brand-new F-35Bs overseas for the first time - here's what their arrival looked like

"It's just over 76 years since 617 Squadron formed to conduct ground-breaking operations. They are once again called upon to take a capability forwards for the first time," said Group Capt. Townsend, commander of RAF Marham Station.

Advertisement

"The exercise in Akrotiri will prove our ability to operate F35 away from RAF Marham and allow us to learn the lessons of operating the air system whilst on deployment," Townsend said.

Advertisement

Group Capt. Christopher Snaith, RAF Akrotiri Station commander, said the deployment will let pilots put the planes through their paces, test logistics and sharpen ground crew training.

"This is the first overseas training deployment of the aircraft and marks another key milestone for the aircraft in UK service," Snaith said.

Advertisement

Snaith said the training aims to prepare the aircraft for its first deployment aboard the UK's new aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, and to develop its strike capability.

There are no current plans to have the aircraft conduct combat missions, said Snaith.

Advertisement

Flight training will take place over waters south of Cyprus and won't involve any weapons.

Snaith said RAF Akrotiri was selected for training because it's far away enough from the UK to "stretch logistics," but familiar enough to UK pilots, some of whom have flown out of the air base before.

Advertisement

The UK is a partner in the US-led F-35 program, providing 15% of the value of each of the 3,000 jets on order around the world, the Ministry of Defense said in a release.

The UK currently has 17 F-35Bs, which arrived last year to reform 617 Squadron. The overall plan is to acquire 138 of the aircraft over the life of the program.

Advertisement