The Air Force has announced the other initial beddown locations for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter—it named Eglin AFB, Fla., in August as the site for primary maintenance and flight training. A news release lists the new operational locations—all to be a mix of active and reserve forces—as Hill AFB, Utah, Kadena AB, Japan, and Shaw AFB/McEntire ANGB, S.C. Test locations are Edwards AFB, Calif., and Nellis AFB, Nev. USAF now begins the environmental assessments for each locations, a process that could take up to two years. The service expects to begin receiving F-35s in 2009.
Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, held meetings with defense leaders from the Philippines, Japan, and South Korea during a trip to the Indo-Pacific this week.