The USAF pronounces IOC for F-35A Block 3I, and Gen. "Hawk" Carlisle says that he would deploy the jet to Europe or the WP tomorrow if necessary. Unfortunately, the F-35A 3I is functionally identical to the F-35B Block 2B, meaning that it only supports the carriage of two AIM-120s and either two 2,000lb JDAMs or two 500lbs. LGBs, all internally. So basically it is an upgraded F-117A - not a fighter aircraft (at this point in its development.) Note that the AIM-9X target kill is irrelevant until 3F aircraft can be fielded in a few years. There is a reason why people are talking about using this aircraft as an "armed scout" / ISR asset - it cannot perform current mission sets without the support of current tactical jets for wvr air combat and as magazines/bomb trucks for ground attack and bvr engagements.