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Air Force

Air Force F-35A IOC Declaration Buys Political Support, Analysts Say

Pat Host

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2016

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Air Force F-35A IOC Declaration Buys Political Support, Analysts Say

The first F-35A for the Italian Air Force, and the first F-35 built at the Cameri FACO, takes to the skies over Italy, Sept. 7, 2015. Photo: Lockheed Martin.

Declaring initial operational capability (IOC) for the F-35A will benefit the Air Force more politically than in the skies, according to a pair of analysts.Teal Group Vice President of Analysis Richard Aboulafia told Defense Daily Tuesday foreign customers are questioning buying into a program that hasn’t entered service. Aboulafia said while the Air Force wants to get the F-35A out in combat to show it off for these international customers, the problem is that there are “very few” scenarios that…

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