The 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke AFB, Ariz., received its first F-35A this week. The jet is the first for the squadron, which is tasked with advanced pilot training, and the 51st jet assigned to Luke, according to a base news release. Squadron commander Lt. Col. Matt Vedder flew the flagship jet to Luke from the Lockheed Martin plant in Fort Worth, Texas. “It’s a monumental day and a huge milestone for the base,” Vedder said.
With upgrades, F-16s can serve as a numbers-builder in the combat air forces until the 2040s, and it’s not necessary to launch its successor yet, program officials said at an industry conference. “We anticipate hundreds of F-16s in active service for decades to come,” meaning into the 2040s, Col. Tim…