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  • Maintainers from Hill’s fighter wings load target munitions on an F-35 Lightning II during exercise Combat Hammer Aug. 8, 2018, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

    Hill F-35s complete intensive weapons evaluation

    HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah – The 388th and 419th Fighter Wings recently completed two exercises over three weeks here known as Combat Hammer and Combat Archer from Aug. 6-24 as part of the Air Force’s annual Weapons System Evaluation Program.  Evaluators from the WSEP team assessed Hill’s weapons crews, maintainers, and pilots to ensure they build,
  • Pilots from the 388th Fighter Wing’s 4th Fighter Squadron were the first operational unit to fire the F-35A’s 25 mm cannon in a strafing run during training. The two-ship formation fired on two sets of ground targets on the Utah Test and Training range Aug. 13. Loading and firing the cannon was one of the few capabilities Airmen in the 388th and 419th FWs had yet to demonstrate. The F-35A’s internal cannon allows the aircraft to maintain stealth against air adversaries as well as fire more accurately on ground targets, giving pilots more tactical flexibility.

    388th FW dialing-in cannon loading, firing in training

    HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah, -- The 388th Fighter Wing’s 4th Aircraft Maintenance Unit and 4th Fighter Squadron were the first operational units to load and fire the F-35A’s cannon during training Aug. 13, and what they learned will influence how they train and fight.Loading and firing the cannon was one of the few capabilities Airmen in the 388th
  • 388th AMXS Airman recognized as Superior Performer

    388th AMXS Airman recognized as Superior Performer

    HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah – Staff Sgt. Brian Morrissey was awarded the Team Hill Superior Performer award by the Hill Top 3 organization.
  • Pilots from the 388th Fighter Wing’s 4th Fighter Squadron were the first operational unit to fire the F-35A’s 25 mm cannon in a strafing run during training. The two-ship formation fired on two sets of ground targets on the Utah Test and Training range Aug. 13. Loading and firing the cannon was one of the few capabilities Airmen in the 388th and 419th FWs had yet to demonstrate. The F-35A’s internal cannon allows the aircraft to maintain stealth against air adversaries as well as fire more accurately on ground targets, giving pilots more tactical flexibility.

    PHOTOS: 388th FW fires F-35A cannon for first time

    Pilots from the 388th Fighter Wing’s 4th Fighter Squadron were the first operational unit to fire the F-35A’s 25 mm cannon in a strafing run during training. The two-ship formation fired on two sets of ground targets on the Utah Test and Training range Aug. 13. Loading and firing the cannon was one of the few capabilities Airmen in the 388th and
  • Tech. Sgt. Ross Robbins, 419th Maintenance Squadron, inspects 25 mm target practice rounds in preparation for loading into F-35 magazines August 8, 2018 at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The F-35A is the only F-35 variant with an internal cannon. It is capable of firing 50 rounds per second. (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Cromar)

    PHOTOS: 388th, 419th FWs load F-35A cannon

    Tech. Sgt. Ross Robbins, 419th Maintenance Squadron, inspects 25 mm target practice rounds in preparation for loading into F-35 magazines August 8, 2018 at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The F-35A is the only F-35 variant with an internal cannon. It is capable of firing 50 rounds per second. (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Cromar)
  • Crew chiefs assigned to 421st Aircraft Maintenance Unit prepare to launch F-35A Lightning II fighter jets at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, July 31, 2018. (U.S. Air Force photo by R. Nial Bradshaw)

    388th Fighter Wing standing up final F-35A aircraft maintenance unit

    HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah; -- Hill’s 388th Fighter Wing recently began standing up the last of its aircraft maintenance units, a big step toward receiving the full complement of F-35A Lightning IIs by the end of 2019. The first operational F-35s landed at Hill Air Force Base in October 2015. Since then the 34th Aircraft Maintenance Unit and 4th AMU
  • Staff Sgt. Benjamin Speer was recently recognized as a “Superior Performer” by the Hill AFB Top 3. Speer is a senior weapons system coordinator assigned to the 388th Maintenance Group and is from Statesville, N.C.

    388th MXG Airman earns Top 3 Superior Performer award

    Staff Sgt. Benjamin Speer was recently recognized as a “Superior Performer” by the Hill AFB Top 3. Speer is a senior weapons system coordinator assigned to the 388th Maintenance Group and is from Statesville, N.C.
  • F-35As fly in weapons evaluation

    Hill AFB units increase flying for weapons evaluations

    HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah, -- Residents around Hill may notice an increase in aircraft arrivals and departures Aug. 6-24 as Hill’s active duty 388th Fighter Wing, the Reserve 419th FW and 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron conduct the U.S. Air Force air-to-ground exercise known as Combat Hammer and air-to-air exercise known as Combat Archer.During this
  • Crew Chief Airman 1st Class Raul Guzman prepares to launch an F-35A Lightning II aircraft piloted by Lt. Col. Yosef Morris, 388th fighter Wing, during Red Flag 17-1, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Feb. 3, 2017. Morris flew the 2,000th sortie during the Air Force's premier air-to-air combat training exercise. Pilots and maintainers from the Hill Air Force Base's 388th and 419th Fighter Wings deployed the fifth-generation fighter to Red Flag on Jan. 20. This is the first deployment of the F-35A to a Red Flag exercise. While deployed, the F-35 will fly alongside fourth- and fifth-generation platforms providing offensive and defensive counter air, suppression of enemy air defenses and limited close air support. (U.S. Air Force photo/R. Nial Bradshaw)

    388th, 419th FWs proud of F-35A milestones

    Today marks two years since the Air Force declared Initial Operational Capability for the F-35A and the total force Airmen at Hill’s active duty 388th and reserve 419th Fighter Wings have been hard at work developing and demonstrating combat capability.“We knew that when we achieved IOC two years ago, the hard work had just begun,” said Col.
  • An F-35A Lightning II aircraft from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, takes off from Nellis AFB, Nevada, Feb. 2. Airmen from the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings at Hill are participating in Red Flag 17-01. Red Flag is the U.S. Air Force’s premier air-to-air combat training exercise. This is the first F-35A deployment to Red Flag since the Air Force declared the jet combat ready in August 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/R. Nial Bradshaw)

    Hill Airmen, aircraft progress together as F-35A program matures

    HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah, -- Two years after the Air Force declared IOC for the F-35A, pilots and maintainers at Hill’s active duty 388th and reserve 419th Fighter Wings are steadily erasing the word “initial” from in front of “operational capability.”Since the IOC announcement on Aug. 2, 2016, Airmen and the jet have grown together during
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