USAF hosts European Air Group members advancing the F-35A Lightning II program Published Nov. 17, 2025 By Senior Airman Ashley Talley 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs ROAYL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- European Air Group members and partners gather together to collaborate as a team advancing F-35A Lightning II aircraft programs and initiatives, Oct. 7-9, 2025. A Royal Danish Air Force service member participates in F-35A Lightning II squadron talks with the European Air Group at RAF Lakenheath, England, Oct. 8, 2025. The 48th Fighter Wing hosted the EAG, supporting interoperable operations throughout the European theatre, providing crucial support and advancement techniques. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ashley Talley) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Representatives from the Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal British Air Force and Navy, Italian Air Force, Belgian Air Force, Royal Danish Air Force and Royal Norwegian Air Force service members joined the 48th Fighter Wing to refine F-35 tactics, advanced maneuvers and maintenance practices. “The European Air Group brings together NATO partners to improve the Air Forces as a whole, using cross-talks to help each other and build interoperability,” said U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Chelsea Martin, 495th Fighter Generation Squadron sortie support flight commander. Throughout the week, participants conducted demonstrations, discussions, and collaborative training exercises designed to expand unit capabilities and strengthen readiness across the alliance. “By and large, improving interoperability during operations or deployments and decreasing our logistics footprint, these F-35 Squadron Talks are an opportunity to bring nations together by exchanging best practices, building up a network and performing cross-service training,” said Royal Netherlands Air Force Maj. Marcel Voorsluijs, European Air Group staff officer. British Royal Air Force and Navy service members listen to an F-35A Lightning II innovation briefing at RAF Lakenheath, England, Oct. 7, 2025. The discussions were one piece of the European Air Group’s F-35A Lightning II education and readiness initiative, allowing various countries to share experiences and lessons learned. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ashley Talley) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res The event emphasized a shared mindset -- train together, fight together. By sharing experiences and lessons learned, the group continues to refine collective tactics and ensure every service member is mission-ready. “We are able to come together with the fellow countries in this program and learn from their best practices and implement them back in Denmark,” said Royal Danish Air Force Maj. Lars Kristensen, Fighter Wing Skrydstrup Aircraft Maintenance Squadron maintenance lead. “Also, bringing our knowledge we’ve gained with the F-35 and getting to a path where everyone is getting better.” F-35 conferences like this provide insight into daily operations, allowing service members on the ground and the pilots in the sky to have a broadened understanding wherever they fight. “The 48th Fighter Wing aimed to share our successes and lessons learned through things like Agile Combat Employment, interoperability exercises and Integrated Combat Turns and then hear our partners' takes on those processes so maybe we can all improve,” said Martin. U.S. Airmen and British Royal Navy service members collaborate during a European Air Group F-35A Lightning II aircraft demonstration at RAF Lakenheath, England, Oct. 7, 2025. Allies and partners gathered for EAG Squadron Talks, motivating F-35 advancements and NATO interoperable operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ashley Talley) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Honing in on ICTs, the Liberty Wing hosted a demonstration of the rapid refueling and weapons rearming process recently introduced to the 493rd and 495th Fighter Squadrons. This allowed each nation to get a first-hand look at techniques for enhancing their operational speed and regeneration in adverse environments. “Process sharing of this nature directly increases NATO’s capabilities in the European theatre,” Kristensen said. “This is a milestone for Denmark--there is so much to learn from the other countries; this is gold for us.” Refining tactics and sharing lessons learned, the Squadron Talks reinforce airpower advantages and set the foundation for even greater unity among allied F-35 forces.