The a hundred and twenty fifth FW obtained its first three F-35As, which is able to be a part of those loaned from sister Air Nationwide Guard items for conversion and familiarization coaching.
The Florida Air Nationwide Guard’s (ANG) a hundred and twenty fifth Fighter Wing at Jacksonville ANGB introduced on Aug. 21, 2025 that it obtained its first three completely assigned F-35A Lightning IIs, marking its transition to the fifth technology jet from the legacy F-15C/Ds. Though it was introduced solely just lately, the supply occurred on Jul. 9, mentioned the service.
Among the many three plane delivered was additionally the five hundredth F-35A delivered by Lockheed Martin to the Air Power, which in response to the pictures launched by the service is the plane with the serial AF 22-5817. All three jets bear the a hundred and twenty fifth FW’s legacy tail flash to signify its nickname “the Thunder,” in addition to the unit’s coat of arms exterior the starboard (right-side) engine nacelle, and the Air Nationwide Guard brand on the highest a part of the vertical stabilizer.
The a hundred and twenty fifth oversees a sole fighter plane unit, the 159th Fighter Squadron (159th FS). The unit’s commander, Lt. Col. Joseph Pasko, was among the many pilots who flew the three jets to their new house.
𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘: 𝟏𝟐𝟓𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐅-𝟑𝟓𝐬
“These new F-35s, which embrace the Air Power’s five hundredth, signify the forefront of fifth-generation airpower,” mentioned U.S. Air Power Lt. Col. Joseph… pic.twitter.com/9VpsIR4w9E
— FloridaNationalGuard (@FLGuard) August 21, 2025
These plane now be a part of three different F-35As, two from the Wisconsin ANG and one other from the Alabama, ANG that have been loaned to Jacksonville ANGB in March 2025 as a part of a “conversion workforce” to assist put together Operations Help and Upkeep Squadrons (MXG) for the brand new jet. Jacksonville ANGB’s a hundred and twenty fifth FW can be the fourth ANG unit to fly the F-35, after items in Vermont (158th FW), Wisconsin (a hundred and fifteenth FW) and Alabama (187th FW), and one in every of 9 items within the total USAF.
🎥: One other first within the books! 📖The primary F-35A Lightning II plane completely assigned to the Florida Air Nationwide Guard’s a hundred and twenty fifth Fighter Wing taxis on the flight line after touchdown at Jacksonville Air Nationwide Guard Base.This supply marks a key milestone within the wing’s… pic.twitter.com/CHCsXL8JWH
— F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Workplace (@theF35JPO) August 19, 2025
Significance
The F-35s’ arrival at Jacksonville ANGB comes amid a broader push inside the U.S. Air Power to area fifth-generation airpower, and whereas the a hundred and twenty fifth FW executes a multi-year transition from the F-15C/D Eagles. The unit will “proceed flying a mixture of its personal plane and plane loaned by varied Air Nationwide Guard sister items throughout this phased transition, permitting the wing to take care of mission readiness with out interruption,” the Aug. 21 press launch added.
“These new F-35s, which embrace the Air Power’s five hundredth, signify the forefront of fifth-generation airpower,” mentioned U.S. Air Power Lt. Col. Joseph Pasko, commander of the 159th Fighter Squadron. “We count on to play an integral position in potential future conflicts, and our citizen-Airmen stand able to reply the nation’s name; anytime, anyplace.”
The supply additionally reinforces “the Air Nationwide Guard’s position in offering built-in, combat-ready airpower.” The press launch careworn on the F-35’s defining “stealth, sensor fusion and electronic-warfare capabilities, outpacing the fourth-generation Eagles that the wing retired late final yr.”
This boosts the USAF’s airpower alongside the southeastern area and bolsters its homeland protection and international pressure projection targets. The Mar. 4 press launch by the a hundred and twenty fifth FW additionally famous Florida being house to the Naval Station Mayport and Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, together with Jacksonville ANGB, fostering joint-force integration. Florida additionally hosts Tyndall and Eglin AFBs. “The introduction of the F-35 strengthens interoperability between the Air Power, Navy, and Marine Corps, reinforcing Florida’s position as a nationwide safety hub,” mentioned the a hundred and twenty fifth FW.
To maintain the Lightning II, the bottom has constructed a brand new simulator advanced, upgraded hangar air flow for low-observable upkeep, started building on a climate-controlled weapons-load facility, and coordinated with the Jacksonville Aviation Authority to widen taxiways at Jacksonville Worldwide Airport. Commander of the a hundred and twenty fifth Upkeep Group (a hundred and twenty fifth MXG) Col. Carl Guckenberger mentioned the Airmen have accomplished “1000’s of hours of formal coaching” on the brand new jets.
F-35’s future
Lockheed Martin reported in mid-July that it cleared its F-35 supply backlog, after long-standing points with the brand new Expertise Refresh-3 (TR-3) software program code that helps the long run Block 4 upgrades. This includes improved computing, sensor fusion, information processing, digital warfare, goal acquisition and weapons capabilities.
Breaking Protection quoted Lockheed Martin’s head of aeronautics division Greg Ulmer and vice chairman for enterprise growth J.R. MacDonald who mentioned, as of early June, the corporate had delivered 200 F-35s within the TR-3 configuration, whereas forecasting a supply of 170-190 plane this yr.
The corporate’s efforts to hurry up F-35 deliveries additionally come amid diminished F-35 acquisition within the FY2026 finances, because the plane contributes about 30% of its income. Protection Information reported that the Air Power would procure solely 24 F-35As in 2026 for roughly $4 billion, lower than the 44 F-35s, costing $4.8 billion, the Air Power is on monitor to purchase this yr, and the 51 jets, price $5.5 billion, the service purchased in 2024.
Within the Mar. 4 press launch, a hundred and twenty fifth FW commander Col. Mansour Elhihi known as the F-35 a “cornerstone” of U.S. army energy that “immediately helps nationwide safety goals […] to reply, dominate, and win in any battlespace.” Each the releases additionally talked about the a hundred and twenty fifth FW’s induction of the F-35A being in line with the Air Power’s stress on Agile Fight Employment (ACE) operations idea.
The ‘China problem’
In a uncommon occasion, the press launch explicitly named China because the nation with the burgeoning army capabilities that’s driving the Air Power’s F-35 push – uncommon for a service department to make a political assertion. The references to Beijing are often framed as “peer” battle, “high-end warfare” or “great-power competitors.” This displays the sense of unease that has gripped the service with the diminished F-35 order.
The discharge mentioned: “The arrival coincides with current testimonies by Division of the Air Power management earlier than a Senate protection subcommittee to emphasize the significance of increasing air and house dominance. In the course of the listening to, they outlined that the division’s fiscal yr 2026 finances request prioritizes defending the homeland and bolstering defenses within the Indo-Pacific area, the place China is the pacing risk.”
It then quoted USAF Chief of Workers Gen. David Allvin’s assertion earlier than the lawmakers, who identified that not solely is the Individuals’s Republic of China “quickly modernizing its army, however doing so with a transparent intent to coerce its neighbors and reshape the worldwide order.”
Allvin additional added “america should keep airpower dominance if we’re to safeguard our safety, deter aggression, and prevail in battle.”
The service has been aiming to qualitatively improve its presence within the western Pacific with the PACAF (Pacific Air Forces) deploying the superior F-15EX and extra F-35A Lightning II jets. The brand new functionality enhances choices for a doable high-end warfare with an more and more succesful China within the Indo-Pacific.
On Jul. 12, 2025, two F-15EX Eagle IIs from the eighty fifth Take a look at and Analysis Squadron, out of Eglin AFB, arrived at Kadena Air Base, Japan, accompanied by an F-15E Strike Eagle and an F-16C Combating Falcon of the identical unit. This was to assist practice Kadena AB, which hosts the forty fourth and 67th Fighter Squadrons underneath the 18th Wing, for the long run arrival of the F-15EX.
