F-35C Lightning II
First own on June 6, 2010, the
carrier variant (CV) of the Joint Strike
Fighter is assigned the designation
F-35C. Although it features a larger,
longer-span folding wing than the
F-35A and F-35B, the carrier variant
has 11 weapons stations. They
include three under each wing, two
in each of the two internal weaponbays and one on the fuselage
centerline. The F-35C is capable
of carrying a maximum payload
of 18,000lb (8,165kg). The aircraft
is equipped with a tail hook and
modi ed landing gear designed
for catapult launch and arrested
recoveries. Unlike the F-35A, which
features an internal four-barrel 25mmGAU-22/A cannon, the F-35C can
carry a podded version of the gun as
per the F-35B.
Although the F-35C has been
cleared to carry the same weapons
as the F-35B, its larger weapons
bays allow it to carry the 2,000lb
(907kg) GBU-31 version of the
JDAM internally and on four of the
underwing stations.
The rst production F-35C was
delivered to VFA-101 at Eglin AFB,
Florida, on June 22, 2013 and the
‘Grim Reapers’ carried out the
initial Lightning II training sortie in
August 2013. By December 2017,
the navy had accepted 28 F-35Cs
from Lockheed Martin. Its programof record includes 260 aircraft for the
navy and 67 for the marines.
Transition of the rst operational
squadron began in December
2017 when the VFA-147 started
its conversion from the F/A-18E.
Training is being conducted by
VFA-125 at NAS Lemoore, California,
and VFA-101 at Eglin AFB, Florida. The
F-35C will achieve initial operational
capability with Block 3F software as
early as August 2018. VFA-147 will
make its rst deployment in 2021
when the squadron is embarked
aboard the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).
On August 1, 2018, commander,
Joint Strike Fighter Wing will be
established at NAS Lemoore and willSquadron Location Aircraft Command Tail code
VFA-147 ‘Argonauts’
(see note 1)
NAS Lemoore,
California F-35C CSFWP NH
VFA-101 ‘Grim Reapers’
(FRS) Eglin AFB, Florida F-35C CSFWP NJ
VFA-125 ‘Rough Raiders’
(FRS)
NAS Lemoore,
California F-35C CSFWP NJ
VX-9 Det Edwards Edwards, AFB,
California F-35C COTEF XE
VX-23 ‘Salty Dogs’ NAS Patuxent River, Maryland F-35C NAWCAD SD
1 VFA-147 began transition to F-35C January 2018.EA-18G Growler
The EA-18G provides full-spectrum
airborne electronic attack (AEA)
capabilities to the eet. Designed
to counter enemy air defenses
and communication networks, the
Growler combined the airframe
of Boeing’s Block II F/A-18F with
the advanced electronic warfare
suite that was developed for
the ICAP III version of the EA-6B
Prowler. It retains the Super
Hornet’s inherent strike and
self-protection capabilities and
its AN/APG-79 multi-mode AESA
radar. The heart of the aircraft is
the AN/ALQ-99 tactical jamming
system (TJS) and its associated
tactical jamming pods. Up to ve
can be carried under the aircraft
wing and centerline stations. Its
mission systems also include the
AN/ALQ-218 receiver antennas
that are mounted on the wingtips
in place of the ghter’s missile
rails as well as the AN/ALQ-227
communications countermeasures
set and the multi-mission
advanced tactical terminal (MATT)
that works in conjunction with
the Link 16 tactical datalink. The
latter system is being replaced bythe new Joint Tactical Terminal —
Receiver (JTT-R).
The EA-18G’s o ensive weapons
include the AGM-88 High-speed
Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM)
missile and soon the AGM-88E
Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided
Missile (AARGM), which are
both used to destroy enemy
radar and missile sites. It retains
the capability to carry AIM-120
AMRAAM missiles. The Advanced
Anti-Radiation Guided Missile-
Extended Range (AARGM-ER)
will be added to the Growler’s
inventory in 2023.
A replacement for the ALQ-99
pods is under development by
Raytheon under a $1.5-billion
engineering and manufacturing
development (EMD) contract that
was awarded in April 2016. The
contractor is initially producing
15 Increment 1 engineering
development model (EDM) pods
that will be used for mission
systems testing and quali cation,
and 14 aeromechanical pods
that will support airworthiness
certi cation. Low-rate initial
production deliveries of the dual-pod AN/ALQ-249 Next-Generation
Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) will
begin in 2022 and the navy plans
to purchase 135 sets of pods. An
NGJ-Low Band is planned under
Increment 2.
The rst operational aircraft
was delivered to VAQ-129 at NAS
Whidbey Island, Washington,
in June 2008. It achieved IOC
with VAQ-132 in September
2009 and deployed in support
of Operation ‘New Dawn’ in an
expeditionary role in November- The EA-18G began its rst
carrier deployment with VAQ-141
aboard the USS George H. W.
Bush (CVN 77) in May 2011. It
completely replaced the EA-6B in
the electronic attack role when
the last US Navy Prowlers were
retired in 2015.
Growlers are assigned to a eet
replacement squadron, nine
carrier-based VAQ squadrons
and ve units, including a
single reserve squadron,
operate from land bases in
expeditionary roles and have
USAF personnel assigned. Plans
call for the establishment of a fth
expeditionary squadron. Each of
the squadrons is equipped with
ve Growlers. The navy’s current
objective for the EA-18G is 160
aircraft and Boeing delivered the
150th example in December 2017.
Procurement ended in Fiscal 2016
when a nal batch of 10 EA-18Gs
was funded.
Squadron Location Aircraft Command Tail code
NAWDC ‘Strike NAS Fallon, Nevada EA-18G CNAF/CNAFP
VAQ-129 (FRS) ‘Vikings’ NAS Whidbey Island, Washington EA-18G CVAQWP NJ
VAQ-130 ‘Zappers’ NAS Whidbey Island, Washington EA-18G CVAQWP AC
VAQ-131 ‘Lancers’ NAS Whidbey Island, Washington EA-18G CVAQWP AJ
VAQ-132 ‘Scorpions’
(see note 1)
NAS Whidbey Island,
Washington EA-18G CVAQWP NL
VAQ-133 ‘Wizards’ NAS Whidbey Island, Washington EA-18G CVAQWP NG
VAQ-134 ‘Garudas’
(see note 1)
NAS Whidbey Island,
Washington EA-18G CVAQWP NL
VAQ-135 ‘Black Ravens’
(see note 1)
NAS Whidbey Island,
Washington EA-18G CVAQWP NL
VAQ-136 ‘Gauntlets’ NAS Whidbey Island, Washington EA-18G CVAQWP NE
VAQ-137 ‘Rooks’ NAS Whidbey Island, Washington EA-18G CVAQWP AB
VAQ-138 ‘Yellowjackets’
(see note 1)
NAS Whidbey Island,
Washington EA-18G CVAQWP NL
VAQ-139 ‘Cougars’ NAS Whidbey Island, Washington EA-18G CVAQWP NA
VAQ-140 ‘Patriots’ NAS Whidbey Island, Washington EA-18G CVAQWP AG
VAQ-141
‘Shadowhawks’ MCAS Iwakuni, Japan EA-18G CVAQWP NF
VAQ-142 ‘Gray Wolves’ NAS Whidbey Island, Washington EA-18G CVAQWP NH
VAQ-209 ‘Star Warriors’ NAS Whidbey Island, Washington EA-18G CTSW AF
VX-9 ‘Vampires’ NAWS China Lake, California EA-18G COTEF XE
VX-23 ‘Salty Dogs’ NAS Patuxent River, Maryland EA/NEA-18G NAWCAD SD
VX-31 ‘Vampires’ NAWS China Lake, California EA/NEA-18G NAWCAD DD
1 Expeditionary SquadronAn EA-18G Growler assigned to
VAQ-131 ‘Lancers’. Jamie Hunter(^76) AIR POWER REVIEW
US NAVY & MARINE CORPS AIR POWER YEARBOOK 2018
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