Germany’s Newest F-35A MG-1

The 57th Fighter Squadron “Black Knights,” assigned to the 33d Fighter Wing’s 85th Fighter Group, plays a key role in preparing America’s allied partners to operate the F-35A Lightning II. Based at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas, the squadron conducts Foreign Military Sales training for international F-35 customers, combining classroom instruction, simulator training and advanced flight operations. The 57th Fighter Squadron was reactivated at Ebbing on July 2, 2024, specifically to support the growing international F-35 training mission.

Among the nations participating in the Ebbing program is Germany’s Luftwaffe. German pilots receive F-35A training through the 57th Fighter Squadron, while the 1st German Air Force Training Squadron at Ebbing provides German instructors and liaison personnel to ensure German training requirements are incorporated into the program. The German training pipeline includes F-35A qualification and instructor training, with flight training at Ebbing supported by additional academic, simulator and technical training at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

The mission represents more than simply teaching pilots to fly a new fighter. The Black Knights are helping create a common fifth-generation combat capability among the United States and its NATO allies. By training alongside American instructors and other international F-35 operators, Luftwaffe pilots develop the skills required to employ the Lightning II while building the interoperability and tactical understanding necessary to operate as part of a combined allied force. The 33d Fighter Wing describes its mission as building the foundation for future combat airpower, and the 57th Fighter Squadron’s work at Ebbing has become an important part of that mission.