The Air Force did not release the number of aircraft involved in the deployment, but an official photo showed four F-35As moving down a taxiway after landing at Al Dhafra.
The original schedule called for completing the stealthy fighter's Block 4 modernization program in 2024, but the timeline must be extended to 2026, the U.S. Government Accountability Office says.
The U.S. Marine Corps is halving its planned 2021 buy of F-35Bs to 10 jets, while the Navy is purchasing three fewer F-35Cs than in the previous year’s budget projection.