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F-35 LIGHTNING II UK Lightning Force
Bradshaw said the plan is for a very
slow build-up, taking a steady approach to
declaration of IOC. “It will be the crawl,
walk, run approach,” he said. “We’ve been
flying the aircraft in the US, so we have a
good degree of understanding. But it will
be a gentle ramp-up over the coming years.
When we get to a suitable size with the
‘Dambusters’ as a super-squadron, it will split
into two halves, with 809 Naval Air Squadron
becoming the second operational unit, and
the two will continue to grow over time
towards full strength by the end of 2023.”
Capt Adam Clink, RN, deputy Lightning
Force commander, says that the UK
currently has four brand new ab initio
pilots midway through the training course
at Beaufort, and that they will join No
617 Squadron this year. “The drumbeat
of new blood will continue,” he added.
Gp Capt Jim Beck commanded No 17 Test
and Evaluation Squadron, the Lightning
Operational Evaluation Unit at Edwards
AFB, California, before becoming the UK
F-35 programme director. “The front line
will declare IOC in December. We first
flew the F-35 under sovereign jurisdiction
in 2015, so we’ve been operating the F-35
for three years, putting it through its paces
in the US, so we now have a very mature
tactics manual. We know how to fight
in it and get the best out of this jet.”
It is expected that the first ‘Dambusters’
F-35Bs will initially conduct operations from
Marham in a clean configuration. From
August 18, the squadron will start its IOC
workup, with highlights including weapons
carriage phases and expected participation
in Exercise Cobra Warrior, which will see the
F-35s working alongside other UK assets. The
final push to IOC will then see a ‘war week’
intended to demonstrate capability before“Now we’ve got the jets back we need to make sure we can safely operate the
aircraft, then we will get into the exercises and mission rehearsals for us to
get to IOC [initial operating capability]. We’re in a good place [to make IOC]”
Wg Cdr John Butcher, OC No 617 Squadron
ABOVE: A sharp formation of ‘Dambusters’ F-35Bs led by Wg Cdr John Butcher as they arrive in
UK airspace. Crown Copyright/Cpl Tim Laurence
BELOW: Voyager KC2 ZZ335 leads the four F-35Bs over the UK as they arrive from the US.
Crown Copyright/Cpl Tim Laurence