AK Lightning II inventory almost complete

With the latest delivery of three Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning IIs on 29 March 2022, the Eielson based 354th Fighter Wing has almost received the full complement for its inventory.

On 25 March 2022, 42 F-35As, from both 355th Fightin' Falcons and 356th Green Demons Fighter Squadrons at Eielson AFB (AK), were seen performing an Elephant Walk demonstrating a routine readiness exercise.

Eielson’s and the nearby Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex (JPARC) locations within the Arctic provide an ideal environment for Airmen to conduct large-scale training exercises in extreme cold weather environments to continue to train and enhance the 354th Fighter Wing's readiness.

The latest three aircraft, adding up to 52 delivered AK coded F-35As, are: 19-5490, 19-5491 and 19-5492. It is expected that the last two, 19-5494 and 19-5496, will be delivered from Lockheed Martin's plant at Fort Worth (TX) in due time. In total, Eielson will be hosting 54 Lightning IIs.

The first Lightning IIs began arriving for the wing in April 2020 and was planned to be finished by December 2021. The transfer of the new fighters and an additional 1,300 personnel was already announced in 2016.

Photos by USAF