SALT LAKE CITY — Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, says the long-term future of the military's top warfare aircraft is secure in the Beehive State.

Speaking Monday on KSL Newsradio's "The Doug Wright Show," Bishop said Hill Air Force Base eventually will be home to three squadrons of F-35 fighter jets — more than 70 aircraft — similar to the situation with its predecessor, the F-16.

"The F-35s will replace the F-16s that we had," said Bishop, whose 1st Congressional District surrounds the base. "Those F-16s will not be mothballed. They will go to other bases and still be used."

The new jet has had to overcome heavy skepticism from many critics, including the nation's commander in chief. Plagued by production delays and cost overruns, the F-35 program has been heavily criticized by President Donald Trump, who has said the plane's development program was too costly and should be reviewed.

The F-35 weapons program carries a total price tag of $400 billion, making it the most expensive in the history of the United States military, the Associated Press reported in December. Currently, there are plans to build close to 2,500 F-35s for use by the U.S. military.

While critics argue the program has cost taxpayers too much, supporters point to the more than 146,000 jobs in 45 states that Lockheed Martin says the development and implementation of the F-35 has created. A Hill Air Force Base spokesman said the program is responsible for roughly 500 jobs there.

Important milestones

Hill Air Force Base has been the site of some important milestones for the F-35. In July 2015, it was announced that the once-defunct 34th Fighter Squadron at the base would return to service and become the first Air Force unit to fly combat-ready F-35A fighter jets.

The squadron deployed laser-guided bombs from the F-35A in February 2016, marking the first time live weapons had been released from the aircraft. Six months later, the Air Force formally declared the fighter jet ready for combat.

Last month, the U.S. Air Force joined its European allies in military training exercises for the first time using the high-performance fighter jets.

Officials at Hill confirmed in April that F-35As from the active-duty 34th Fighter Squadron, 388th Fighter Wing, and the Air Force Reserve’s 466th Fighter Squadron, 419th Fighter Wing, will participate in joint air training with other Europe-based aircraft in support of the European Reassurance Initiative.

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Hill Air Force Base deploys F-35s to Europe to train with allies

For the first time, the U.S. Air Force has joined its European allies in military training exercises using its latest high-performance fighter jets.

Much of the training occurred near Royal Air Force Lakenheath in the United Kingdom.

"Everyone in the region saw specifically how quickly the United States can deploy and what the capacity of these planes are," Bishop said.

The training exercises displayed to the world the nation's military preparedness and gives the U.S. enhanced "diplomatic maneuverability," particularly in Europe, he said.

"Reassuring situation"

With the transition from the F-16 to the F-35, the base will maintain its employment level, Bishop said.

"The F-16s will be still be repaired and worked on at the depot at Hill (Air Force Base)," he said. "This is kind of like a win-win situation."

Over the next few years, the fleet will increase to about 78 F-35 fighter jets, officials said. By late 2019, the base should have its full complement of F-35s and their pilots who will be permanently based in Utah.

"This is such a reassuring situation. This plane is the plane of the future," Bishop said. "If we are going to put people in harm's way, then we are going to make sure that they are in a machine that will give (them) the greatest amount of protection so they come home in safety. The F-35 does that."

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