KABUL, Afghanistan – Defense officials announced Afghanistan would be the newest partner nation to receive the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, sources confirmed today.

“This is a truly momentous day," said Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, commander of all NATO forces in Afghanistan. “Afghanistan’s collaboration in the F-35 program shows that the country is ready to take a leading role in defense of the free world.”

When asked how the deeply impoverished country would help pay for the trillion dollar program Gen. Sher Mohammad Karimi, Chief of Staff of the Afghanistan Army, said that the Afghans have already worked out an agreement with the U.S.

"With the retirement of President Karzai approaching," Karimi said, "The $200 billion in American aid we expect to receive can now be used to pay for the project instead of padding the pockets of the Karzai family, or paying for other useless services such as education for girls.”