85th Fighter Group
The 85th Fighter Group is an active United States Air Force organization that trains foreign pilots to operate F-35A Lightning II and F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
The 85th Fighter Group is a United States Air Force organization whose current mission is to provide pilot training for international operators of the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II and General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon. It is based at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas and operates as an active associate of the Arkansas Air National Guard's 188th Wing. The group conducts this work under the Foreign Military Sales framework, supporting the preparation of allied and partner-nation air forces for flight operations on aircraft supplied through United States defense programs. The organization has a long and unusually varied lineage. Its earliest predecessor was constituted in January 1942 as the 85th Bombardment Group (Light) and activated the following month during World War II. Initially equipped for dive-bomber and close-air-support training, it used aircraft including the Vultee V-72 Vengeance, Douglas A-24 Banshee, North American A-36 Apache, Curtiss P-40 Warhawk and, late in its existence, Republic P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft. The group moved among bases in Kentucky, California, Louisiana, Georgia and Florida while participating in training exercises and preparing replacement aircrews. It served as a replacement training unit rather than as a deployed combat formation. The Army Air Forces disbanded it on 1 May 1944 as part of a wider move away from large, inflexible organizational structures toward base-centered numbered units. A separate predecessor emerged in the early Cold War. The Iceland Air Defense Force was organized on 1 April 1952 to provide air defense for Iceland, operate elements of the United States presence at Keflavik and support Department of Defense activities in the country. It functioned as the United States air component of NATO's Iceland Defense Force. Its responsibilities included surveillance, fighter interception, air superiority, rescue support and broader contingency operations in the North Atlantic. During the Cold War, assigned fighters regularly responded to Soviet naval aviation activity in the Iceland area. The Iceland organization was renamed Air Forces Iceland in 1960. Keflavik's airfield and associated base-support functions transferred to the United States Navy in 1961, but Air Forces Iceland continued as a tenant organization and retained the air-defense mission. It moved between major Air Force commands over subsequent decades, including Air Defense Command, Tactical Air Command and Air Combat Command. In 1993 it was inactivated and replaced by the 35th Wing, but the lineage was consolidated in 1994 with the inactive 85th Tactical Fighter Training Wing to form the 85th Wing. The organization resumed responsibility for managing fighter and tanker deployments to Iceland and for protecting United States interests in the North Atlantic. The post-Cold War reduction of forces changed the unit's operating model. In 1995 the 57th Fighter Squadron was inactivated, and the permanent interceptor force was replaced by rotating Regular Air Force and Air National Guard F-15 Eagle deployments. The 85th Wing was reduced to group status and continued to support rotational forces. In 2002 responsibility for United States Air Force units in Iceland moved to United States Air Forces in Europe. The 85th Group was ultimately inactivated on 28 June 2006 after the United States reduced its military presence at Keflavik and withdrew the rotating fighters. The lineage was revived in a new role in 2024. The organization was redesignated the 85th Fighter Group on 18 May 2024 and activated at Ebbing Air National Guard Base on 2 July 2024. It inherited resources and preparatory work from Detachment 1 of the 33rd Fighter Wing, which had been established after Ebbing was selected in 2023 for international F-35 and F-16 training connected with Foreign Military Sales. In May 2025 the group reached initial operational capability and graduated its first class, consisting of Polish Air Force pilots. Its current identity therefore combines a historic United States Air Force lineage with a contemporary international training mission.
History
The 85th Fighter Group traces its lineage to two principal predecessor organizations. The first was the 85th Bombardment Group (Light), constituted on 13 January 1942 and activated on 10 February 1942. Its four original bombardment squadrons trained for close air support and dive-bomber operations during World War II. After receiving aircraft at Bowman Field, Kentucky, the group operated at training locations in California, Louisiana, Kentucky, Georgia and Florida. It used several types of attack and fighter-bomber aircraft, including the A-24 Banshee, A-36 Apache, P-40 Warhawk and P-47 Thunderbolt. In late 1943 and early 1944, elements operated from separate fields in Georgia and Florida while the group served as a replacement training unit for aircrews. It was disbanded on 1 May 1944 when the Army Air Forces replaced many standard training formations with more flexible numbered base units. The second major predecessor was the Iceland Air Defense Force, organized on 1 April 1952. It provided the United States military's air-defense headquarters in Iceland and served as the Air Force component of NATO's Iceland Defense Force. Its activities included operation and support of the American presence at Keflavik, radar surveillance, fighter interception, air superiority and rescue support. The organization was renamed Air Forces Iceland on 1 January 1960. Although Keflavik Airport and base-support duties moved to the United States Navy in 1961, the Air Force continued its air-defense role as a tenant. The organization was transferred among Air Defense Command, Tactical Air Command and Air Combat Command before being inactivated in 1993. In 1994, the Iceland lineage was consolidated with the 85th Tactical Fighter Training Wing, creating the 85th Wing. It again managed fighter and tanker deployments to Iceland and supported United States interests in the North Atlantic. The permanent fighter presence was reduced in 1995, when rotating F-15 units replaced the 57th Fighter Squadron. The organization was reduced from wing to group status and continued supporting rotational forces until its inactivation on 28 June 2006. The 85th Group was redesignated the 85th Fighter Group on 18 May 2024 and activated on 2 July 2024 at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Arkansas. Its new mission grew from Detachment 1 of the 33rd Fighter Wing, which had been preparing the base for international F-35 and F-16 training. The group achieved initial operational capability in May 2025 and graduated its first class of foreign pilots, including Polish Air Force personnel.
- 2025
Initial operational capability achieved
[1]The group graduated its first international pilot class, including Polish Air Force pilots.
- 2024
85th Fighter Group reactivated
[1]The lineage was redesignated and activated at Ebbing Air National Guard Base for international fighter-pilot training.
- 2023
Ebbing selected for international fighter training
[1]Ebbing was selected as the site for Foreign Military Sales-associated training for F-35 and F-16 operators, leading to preparatory work by Detachment 1 of the 33rd Fighter Wing.
- 2006
Iceland-based group inactivated
[1]The group ended its Iceland-based operations after United States force reductions at Keflavik.
- 1995
Reduced to group status
[1]The organization became the 85th Group and shifted toward supporting rotating fighter deployments in Iceland.
- 1994
Lineages consolidated as the 85th Wing
[1]The Iceland air-defense lineage was consolidated with the 85th Tactical Fighter Training Wing and activated as the 85th Wing.
- 1952
Iceland Air Defense Force organized
[1]A second predecessor was established to provide United States air defense and military support in Iceland.
- 1944
World War II predecessor disbanded
[1]The group was disbanded during the Army Air Forces reorganization of replacement training units.
- 1943
Redesignated as a fighter-bomber group
[1]The organization transitioned from bombardment terminology to the 85th Fighter-Bomber Group designation while conducting replacement training.
- 1942
85th Bombardment Group constituted and activated
[1]The first predecessor was constituted in January and activated in February as a World War II light bombardment training organization.
Products and positioning
A United States Air Force international training organization focused on preparing allied and partner-nation pilots to operate F-35A and F-16 aircraft, while preserving a lineage associated with North Atlantic air defense and operational support.
International military aviation training · 2024
F-35A Lightning II training
The group's principal current offering is training for foreign pilots selected to operate the conventional-takeoff F-35A Lightning II through the United States Foreign Military Sales system. The training mission is associated with Ebbing Air National Guard Base and is intended to prepare partner-nation aircrews for flight operations, aircraft employment and integration into their national air forces. The group supports the institutional infrastructure for international F-35 instruction rather than manufacturing or commercially selling the aircraft.
International military aviation training · 2024
F-16 Fighting Falcon training
The 85th Fighter Group also trains pilots from other countries on the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon under Foreign Military Sales-related arrangements. This role extends the unit's mission beyond the F-35 program and supports partner air forces acquiring or operating the F-16. The group is a training organization; the aircraft itself is produced by industry and is not a product of the 85th Fighter Group.
Military operations · 1952
North Atlantic air-defense support
During its Iceland-based period, the organization provided surveillance, air-defense coordination, fighter interception, air-superiority support and rescue capabilities in the North Atlantic. It managed or supported forces deployed to Keflavik and helped maintain the United States and NATO air-defense posture around Iceland. This historical operational role ended with the group's 2006 inactivation in Iceland.
Marketing campaigns
- 2024International F-35 and F-16 training program
United States · Poland · Foreign Military Sales partner countries
The reactivated group established an international fighter-pilot training mission at Ebbing Air National Guard Base for countries operating or acquiring F-35A and F-16 aircraft.
Outcome. The program reached initial operational capability in 2025 and graduated its first class of foreign pilots.
- 2003Joint Task Force Liberia
Liberia
The 56th Rescue Squadron deployed to Liberia and supported operations over Monrovia during the closing phase of the Second Liberian Civil War.
Outcome. Rescue personnel helped extract people from the United States Embassy in Monrovia and supported the United States contingency presence.
- 1952Iceland air-defense mission
Iceland · North Atlantic
The Iceland Air Defense Force and its successors protected Icelandic airspace, monitored North Atlantic activity and supported NATO's regional defense posture.
Outcome. The mission evolved from a standing defense organization to a rotational deployment model before ending with the 2006 inactivation.
- 1942World War II replacement and close-air-support training
United States
The original 85th Bombardment Group conducted training maneuvers and prepared replacement aircrews for Army ground-support and fighter-bomber missions.
Outcome. The unit continued as a training formation until its disbandment during the 1944 Army Air Forces reorganization.
Brand decisions
2024
Reactivation for foreign fighter-pilot trainingStrategyBackground
Ebbing Air National Guard Base was selected to host training linked to international F-35 and F-16 acquisitions under Foreign Military Sales.
Action taken
The Air Force redesignated the lineage as the 85th Fighter Group and activated it at Ebbing, drawing resources from Detachment 1 of the 33rd Fighter Wing.
Aftermath
The group achieved initial operational capability and graduated its first international class in May 2025.
2006
End of the Iceland-based 85th GroupStrategyBackground
The United States reduced its forces in Iceland and ended the established fighter rotation and associated rescue presence.
Action taken
The 85th Group was inactivated on 28 June 2006.
Aftermath
The group's lineage remained available for later reactivation in a different mission and location.
1995
Shift from permanent Iceland fighter presence to rotational deploymentsStrategyBackground
United States force reductions and changing defense arrangements affected the Keflavik-based air-defense structure.
Action taken
The permanent interceptor force was replaced by Regular Air Force and Air National Guard F-15 deployments rotating approximately every 90 days, while the organization was reduced to group status.
Aftermath
The 85th Group continued supporting Icelandic rotational operations until its inactivation in 2006.
Recent events
- 2025
85th Fighter Group reaches initial operational capability[1]
Other
The group reached initial operational capability and graduated its first international pilot class, including pilots from the Polish Air Force.
- 2024
85th Fighter Group activated at Ebbing Air National Guard Base[1]
Leadership change
The United States Air Force reactivated the lineage as the 85th Fighter Group at Ebbing Air National Guard Base to support international F-35 and F-16 training under the Foreign Military Sales program.
- 2006
85th Group inactivated after the end of the Keflavik mission[1]
Other
The 85th Group was inactivated following United States force reductions in Iceland. Rotational fighters departed and the 56th Rescue Squadron ended its operations there.
- 2003
85th Wing supports Liberia contingency operation[1]
Other
The 56th Rescue Squadron deployed to Liberia as part of Joint Task Force Liberia, providing an air presence over Monrovia and extracting people from the United States Embassy during the closing phase of the Second Liberian Civil War.
Sources1 sources
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