GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) - The first F-35 fighter jet has arrived at Luke Air Force Base in Glendale.
About 250 base personnel, family members and contractors watched the Lightning II stealth jet land at Luke on Monday.
Another 143 of the supersonic jets are expected to be assigned to the base during the next decade.
Luke officials expect additional F-35s to arrive a couple of times a month until the base has six squadrons of 24 planes each.
They anticipate receiving about 15 more of the jets during the rest of this year.
The base located 15 miles west of Phoenix is projected to become the Air Force’s primary F-35 pilot training base.
Most of the F-16s currently at Luke will be reassigned to New Mexico’s Holloman Air Force Base as F-35s arrive.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.