JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — There's a big push to get F35s stationed in Jacksonville as Lockheed Martin ramps up production of the world's most advanced fighter jet.
Leading that push is Rep. John Rutherford who got in the cockpit of an F35 simulator Friday in Jacksonville Beach.
The F35s will perform for the first time at the Sea and Sky show this weekend.
The jets are considered more like flying computer chips with capabilities that give our men and women in uniform a major advantage.
Capt. Andrew ‘Dojo' Olson trains new pilots.
"In short, you're King Kong out there you're seeing everybody, nobody sees you and you're able to accomplish your mission very easily," said Olson.
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Olson describes the F35 like being in camouflage. He said the jets can better protect our troops on the ground in combat missions as well.
Because of the stealthy capabilities, the F35 can get closer to target areas without being detected.
Rutherford has been lobbying hard to bring the jets to the Florida Air National Guard 125th Fighter Wing.
"Our facilities here at northeast Florida at FANG are second to none for the F35," said Rutherford. "It would take very little transition to bring that F35 here."
He's already spoken to the newly confirmed Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett and written letters to her office.
"We've been in the top twice now, so I think we're getting close," said Rutherford.
The jets would not only come with their pilots but also with the people who are tasked with maintaining the fighting machines.
Lockheed Martin said it's going to be making about 160 per year through 2030.
Currently, there are more than 400 in operation.
Back in April, Action News Jax got the chance to sit in a realistic F35 cockpit. Pilots must be trained in similar scenarios for more than a year before they can even start flying.
And it's not just the U.S. that uses F35s but also eight other countries.
"The fact that all of our friends have this airplane is a capability in and of itself because when we go fight, we like to do it with our friends," said Olson.
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