A Royal Australian Air Force F-35 Lightning II touched down at Luke AFB, Ariz., becoming the first international F-35 partner to join the pilot training schoolhouse there on Dec. 18. “Today, we take another tremendous step forward in our transition to the F-35 here at Luke,” said 56th Fighter Wing Commander Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus in a release. “Australia is the first of 10 nations. …Welcoming our first Australian F-35 is a special day for Luke and the community that has been so supportive of us, he added. RAAF F-35 pilots will train with the wing’s 61st Fighter Squadron, as well as Italian and Norwegian F-35 pilots whom are slated to begin training under the auspices of Luke’s future 62nd FS by next June, according to the wing. Dutch and Turkish F-35 partners also will eventually train at Luke, in addition to current and potential foreign military sales customers.
The Air Force is upgrading some 70 MQ-9 Reapers to a new configuration that will keep the type capable and relevant to the near-peer fight for another 15 years. It awarded General Atomics a $272.3 million contract to enhance the Reaper's weapons, electric power, connectivity, and resistance to jamming, among…