Will the F-35 Lightning 2 go into operations this fall? A lot of that will depend on the results of deployment testing that’s been going on all month at Mountain Home Air Force Base. Major Chris White with the 31st Testing and Evaluation Squadron out of Edwards Air Force Base says they’ve been conducting true war games this month…testing everything they’d have to do if the planes went to war.

“To test the deployment capability of the F-35, in preparation for the commander of the ACC (Air Combat Command), General Carlisle, for his decision whether or not to declare initial operational capability for the F-35, which is currently slated for this Fall,” said Major White.

While here, the pilots tested how well the F-35 works with the F-15s based at Mountain Home, and the A-10s based at Gowen Field. Major White says the Lightning 2 has capabilities unlike any other plane in the world. He says it’s stealth capabilities allow it to slip past enemy radar, hit targets, then share mission information with other aircraft.