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The British air force just sent its brand-new F-35Bs overseas for the first time - here's what their arrival looked like

Christopher Woody,Associated Press   

The British air force just sent its brand-new F-35Bs overseas for the first time - here's what their arrival looked like
Defense1 min read

British RAF air force F-35B fighter jets Cyprus

Sgt Nik Howe/RAF

An F-35B, the Royal Air Force's newest aircraft, departs RAF Marham Station for RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, May 21, 2019.

  • The Royal Air Force's newest aircraft, the F-35B, arrived in Cyprus on Tuesday for the fighter jets first deployment abroad.
  • The jets are on a six-week deployment meant to test their flying abilities, ground-crew capabilities, and logistical arrangements.
  • Visit INSIDER's homepage for more stories.

AKROTIRI, Cyprus (AP) - Six F-35B Lightning warplanes, the UK's newest fighter, arrived Tuesday at a British air base on Cyprus for training and a systems test in the aircraft's first overseas deployment.

The jets from 617 Squadron, flown by three British Royal Navy and three Royal Air Force pilots, touched down at RAF Akrotiri for what officials said will be a six-week deployment on the eastern Mediterranean island nation as part of Exercise Lightning Dawn.

The fighters left RAF Marham Station in two waves of three aircraft, with each wave supported by an Airbus A330 MRRT Voyager that refueled them several times during the journey.

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