Air Force and Marine Corps F-35s at the joint-service schoolhouse at Eglin AFB, Fla., reached their 500th combined sortie since flight operations began there earlier this year, announced aircraft prime contractor Lockheed Martin. A 33rd Fighter Wing F-35 hit the half-thousand sortie mark on Nov. 2—238 days after flying operations commenced on March 6, states the company’s release. The sortie rate at Eglin continues to accelerate as more F-35s arrive and the schoolhouse ramps up to full-up pilot training. The wing’s mixed fleet of Air Force F-35As and Marine Corps F-35Bs currently stands at 22 aircraft, according to Lockheed Martin. (See also Eglin Wing Flies 100th F-35 Sortie.)
Earlier this week, the People’s Republic of China confirmed it is halting its nuclear arms control talks with the U.S., in retaliation for the U.S. continuing to sell arms to Taiwan. The move reinforces a “pattern of behavior” from Beijing, experts say.