WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US military chose an airbase in the state of Alaska to host its first fully functioning F-35 fighter jet, the US Air Force said in a press release on Monday.
"Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, was selected as the new home for the Air Force’s first operational overseas F-35A Lightning IIs," the release stated.
Air Force officials chose Eielson after weighing operational, environmental and cost-related factors, the release noted.
The base is projected to host two squadrons of F-35A fighter jets slated to arrive by 2020, according to the release.
The F-35 program has been beset by technical problems and cost overruns, pushing its expected total project cost to some $1.5 trillion over its 55-year lifespan, making it the most expensive US weapons program.
