Combat Aircraft – September 2019

T

HE NAVY’S FIRST  eet

F-35C Lightning II squadron,

Strike Fighter Squadron 147

(VA-147) has reached Initial

Operational Capability and,

as reported last month, the

Marine Corps’  rst F-35C squadron,

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314

(VMFA-314) ‘Black Knights’ is beginning

its transition. So, which navy squadron

is next in the queue?

As far as is known publicly, the

next US Navy unit to switch from the

Super Hornet to the F-35C has not

been decided. The next Marine Corps

squadron scheduled is VMA-311, but

that’s not planned for completion

until mid-2023.

What is the reason for the slow

progress? No decision has been

declared relating to the apparent

slowdown of navy F-35C transition,

THE STORY BEHIND THE US NAVY HEADLINES

READY ROOM

RICK

BURGESS

NAVY F-35C

TRANSITION ON THE GO-SLOW

12 September 2019 //^ http://www.combataircraft.net

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