No. 17 Squadron (XVII Squadron), currently stationed at Edwards Air Force Base in California, serves as the Operational Evaluation Unit (OEU) for the F-35B Lightning. This unique positioning places the squadron at the forefront of UK combat air power development, testing the fifth-generation stealth fighter in the immense airspace of the Mojave Desert. Formed in 1915, the squadron has a rich history of adaptation, reflected in its motto Excellere Contende ("Strive to Excel"). It famously flew Hurricanes during the Battle of Britain and Spitfires in the Burma campaign against Japanese forces. During the Cold War, it operated the Phantom and Jaguar in nuclear strike roles before becoming the first RAF squadron to receive the Eurofighter Typhoon for evaluation in 2003, a testing legacy it continues today with the Lightning.
