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        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 495th Fighter Squadron lands on the flightline at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, Dec. 15, 2021. The arrival of the 5th-generation aircraft at the Liberty Wing has been planned since 2015, marking its placement within the United Kingdom a critical component for training and combat readiness due to airspace and F-35 program partnership.(U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Koby I. Saunders)A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 495th Fighter Squadron lands on the flight line at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom, Dec. 15, 2021. The arrival of the fifth-generation aircraft at the installation has been planned since 2015, marking its placement within the U.K. a critical component for training and combat readiness due to airspace and F-35 program partnership. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Koby I. Saunders)
            
            
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U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II’s assigned to the 495th Fighter Squadron conduct a flyover upon arrival at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, Dec. 15, 2021. The F-35A is an agile, versatile, high-performance, 9-g capable multirole fighter that combines stealth, sensor fusion, with unprecedented situational awareness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Koby I. Saunders)U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs assigned to the 495th Fighter Squadron conduct a flyover upon arrival at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom Dec. 15, 2021. The F-35A is an agile, versatile, high-performance, 9g-capable multirole fighter that combines stealth, sensor fusion with unprecedented situational awareness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Koby I. Saunders)
            
            
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A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 495th Fighter Squadron conducts a flyover upon arrival at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, Dec. 15, 2021. The Liberty Wing was selected to host the first F-35 squadrons in Europe based on numerous factors, to include existing infrastructure, history with supporting fighter operations and the combined training opportunities the UK has to offer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Koby I. Saunders)A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 495th Fighter Squadron conducts a flyover upon arrival at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom, Dec. 15, 2021. The installation was selected to host the first F-35 squadrons in Europe based on numerous factors to include existing infrastructure, history with supporting fighter operations and the combined training opportunities the U.K. has to offer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Koby I. Saunders)
            
            
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A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 495th Fighter Squadron lands on the flightline at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, Dec. 15, 2021. The arrival of the 5th-generation aircraft at the Liberty Wing has been planned since 2015, marking its placement within the United Kingdom a critical component for training and combat readiness due to airspace and F-35 program partnership.(U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Koby I. Saunders)A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 495th Fighter Squadron lands on the flight line at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom, Dec. 15, 2021. The arrival of the fifth-generation aircraft at the installation has been planned since 2015, marking its placement within the U.K. a critical component for training and combat readiness due to airspace and F-35 program partnership. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Koby I. Saunders)
            
            
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        U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II’s assigned to the 495th Fighter Squadron conduct a flyover upon arrival at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, Dec. 15, 2021. The F-35A is an agile, versatile, high-performance, 9-g capable multirole fighter that combines stealth, sensor fusion, with unprecedented situational awareness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Koby I. Saunders)U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs assigned to the 495th Fighter Squadron conduct a flyover upon arrival at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom Dec. 15, 2021. The F-35A is an agile, versatile, high-performance, 9g-capable multirole fighter that combines stealth, sensor fusion with unprecedented situational awareness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Koby I. Saunders)
            
            
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        A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 495th Fighter Squadron conducts a flyover upon arrival at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, Dec. 15, 2021. The Liberty Wing was selected to host the first F-35 squadrons in Europe based on numerous factors, to include existing infrastructure, history with supporting fighter operations and the combined training opportunities the UK has to offer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Koby I. Saunders)A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 495th Fighter Squadron conducts a flyover upon arrival at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom, Dec. 15, 2021. The installation was selected to host the first F-35 squadrons in Europe based on numerous factors to include existing infrastructure, history with supporting fighter operations and the combined training opportunities the U.K. has to offer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Koby I. Saunders)
            
            
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New F-35 Lightning IIs join USAFE, RAF Lakenheath fleet for first timePublished Dec. 16, 2021
                    
                    By 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
            **ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, United Kingdom (AFNS) --****RAF Lakenheath** received its first delivery of **F-35A Lightning II** aircraft Dec. 15. This is the result of a force posture adjustment that has been six years in the making. Announced in 2015, the long-anticipated arrival of the F-35 marks RAF Lakenheath as the first base in **United States Air Forces in Europe** to receive the new, fifth-generation aircraft.“Our coalition forces train and fight in the most dynamic theater, requiring the most advanced platforms,” said **Gen. Jeff Harrigian**, **U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa** commander. “The Valkyries are leading our F-35 integration across Europe. We’ve come a long way, and now we’re extending our reach as a coalition force and what we will accomplish together.”The aircraft will belong to the 495th Fighter Squadron, which was nicknamed the “Valkyries” during a voting contest in 2020. The new F-35 squadron will consist of 24 aircraft, delivered in a phased approach.“‘Valkyries’ epitomizes the force’s move toward more inclusivity and equally represents the fifth-generation stealth fighter’s air superiority,” said Lt. Col. Ian McLaughlin, 495th FS commander. “Like the Valkyries themselves, we’ll be vital to determining the fate of our adversaries in the battlespace.”RAF Lakenheath was selected in 2015 to host the first U.S. F-35A squadrons in Europe based on very close ties with the RAF, existing infrastructure and combined training opportunities. The U.K. is a critical component in training and combat readiness for Air Forces in Europe due to its excellent airspace and F-35 program partnership. “The amount of support we received, and continue to receive, from the community, both here and back home, has been overwhelming and highly appreciated,” said Col. Jason Camilletti, 48th Fighter Wing commander.LR 



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