F-35 Fighter Jets Shine in Rigorous Combat Operations
In the arena of modern warfare, the F-35 Lightning II is proving its mettle. Recently, top officials from the Air Force highlighted the aircraft’s performance during two intense military exercises, Operation Epic Fury and Operation Midnight Hammer.
During the Air & Space Forces Association’s 2026 Air, Space & Cyber Conference, Maj. Gen. Brian Laidlaw and Col. Charles A. Fallon emphasized the F-35’s combat capabilities. This comes on the heels of concerns raised by an independent watchdog about the jet’s readiness for combat missions.
“When properly resourced, we showed without a doubt how well this airplane can perform in combat,” remarked Laidlaw, affirming the aircraft’s reliability.
The F-35 demonstrated high mission-capable rates, even when faced with logistical challenges such as the need for spare parts in contested environments. According to Laidlaw, this resilience was particularly evident during sustained combat operations.
Col. Fallon noted the maintenance advantages of the F-35. The aircraft’s flight line starkly contrasts with that of fourth-generation jets, where maintenance activities were more visible and frequent.
“You go out there on an F-35 flight line in between goes — people are smoking a Lucky,” Fallon commented. “There’s nothing going on.” This reflects the aircraft’s streamlined maintenance requirements, where it either needs parts before the next flight or can quickly refuel and rearm for rapid deployment.
Fallon further emphasized, “When we can start cutting down from hours to minutes, that really matters and that equals people’s lives,” highlighting the critical impact of reduced turnaround times.
The F-35’s adaptability also surprised officials, as it successfully executed a variety of missions. This flexibility necessitated the rapid certification of new weapons, a process traditionally spanning months or years, which was expedited under wartime conditions.
Laidlaw expressed hope that this model of rapid adaptation could serve as a blueprint for future collaborations among services, allies, and the defense industry.
Col. Fallon predicted a growing demand for the F-35, noting, “More than half the wing has been gone at any time for the past two and a half years, and that’s not going to change anytime soon.”
This commendation of the F-35 comes after a Government Accountability Office report in June pointed out a decline in the fleet’s readiness rates, citing software issues, parts shortages, and corrosion as contributing factors.
