The largest buyer of the F-35 just declared it ready for war,(photo)

The largest buyer of America's most expensive weapons program just declared it ready for war.

"I am proud to announce this powerful new weapons system has achieved initial combat capability," US Air Force Gen. Herbert "Hawk" Carlisle, commander of Air Combat Command, said on a call with reporters.

"The F-35A will be the most dominant aircraft in our inventory because it can go where our legacy aircraft cannot and provide the capabilities our commanders need on the modern battlefield," Carlisle said.