LIGHTNING IITHE FIGHTER EVOLUTION - F-35

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was deemed able to fly close air support

(CAS), offensive and defensive counter-

air, air interdiction, assault support escort,

and armed reconnaissance missions.

The squadron was soon flying in Block 3i

configuration, which meant the jets could

employ two AIM-120C missiles and two

1,000lb (454kg) GBU-32 Joint Direct Attack

Munitions (JDAMs) or two 500lb (227kg)

GBU-12 laser-guided bombs – all internally.

In the run-up to IOC, ‘121’ was put through its

paces during seven weeks of flight operations

aboard the amphibious assault ship USS

Wasp (LHD 1), during large-force exercises

and in an operational evaluation (Opeval)

that included multiple live ordnance sorties.

The Marine programME

The F-35 is replacing the Hornet and Harrier

as the USMC’s primary strike fighter. Since

IOC, F-35Bs operated by the ‘Green Knights’

departed Yuma for a new permanent station

at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, in January 2017

and the unit has completed its first Marine

Expeditionary Unit (MEU) deployment aboard

the USS Wasp (LHD 1), which was operating

from its homeport in Yokosuka, Japan. The

second operational F-35B unit, VMFA-211

‘Avengers’, is also fully up and running and

is deploying aboard the USS Essex (LHD 2)

this summer with Block 3F-standard F-35Bs

that feature full operational capability.

Ultimately, the Marine Corps will acquire

353 F-35Bs and 67 F-35C carrier variants

that will be operated by 20 active-duty

and two reserve component squadrons

from six locations. Two of the squadrons

will be tasked with training and seven

of the USMC’s F-35Cs will support

training with US Navy Fleet Replacement

Squadrons. The first Marine Corps F-35C

was delivered to VFA-101 in January 2015.

Full transition to the Lightning II will be

complete when the second reserve squadron

stands up in 2031 and Marine Corps fielding

plans call for nine squadrons to be equipped

with 16 F-35Bs and five that will each have

ten aircraft. All F-35B training will be carried

out at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina, which

will be home to two 25-aircraft training

squadrons. Each of the four F-35C squadrons

will have ten aircraft assigned and will support

US Navy carrier air wing deployments

as part of TACAIR integration.

The US Marine Corps was the first service to declare initial operational

capability with the Lightning II and is now deploying its F-35Bs aboard

amphibious assault ships.

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