F-35: Air Force to begin Operational Testing and Evaluation

A little blurb in AINOnline caught my attention:

Operational testing and evaluation of the F-35A has begun, with the delivery of four aircraft to Nellis AFB. They were accepted by the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center in a ceremony on March 19. Eight more F-35As will join them by 2019. 

This isn't about Lockheed Martin testing the aircraft.  OT&E begins the Air Force's evaluation of the aircraft.  OT&E is the formal testing conducted prior to deployment of an aircraft (or any other major piece of equipment) to evaluate the operational effectiveness and suitability of the system with respect to its mission.

Or to be more succinct, the program continues to make progress.

Graff