F-35B

USS America Will Allow Japan-Based Marines to Bring More MV-22 Ospreys to Sea

USS America, (LHA-6), houses 12 F35-B Lightning II aircraft off the coast of Calif., on Nov. 18, 2016. US Marine Corps Photo

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Japan-based 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit is already considering how next year’s arrival of new amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6) will affect operations in the forward-deployed amphibious force.

An early look indicates America’s larger flight deck may make up for the ship’s lack of a well deck, 31st MEU Commanding Officer Col. Robert Brodie...

https://news.usni.org/2019/04/24/uss-america-will-allow-japan-based-marines-to-bring-more-mv-22-ospreys-to-sea

F-35B Allowed Essex ARG to Flex New Blue-Water Capabilities in Absence of Carrier Nearby

Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD-2) transits the Gulf of Aden during a vertical replenishment while on a regularly scheduled deployment of Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). US Navy Photo

ARLINGTON, Virginia – The F-35B Joint Strike Fighter is not only changing the way Marine forces conduct their missions, it is also changing the way the amphibious navy can do its work in the absence of an aircraft carrier, leaders from the 13th Marine...

https://news.usni.org/2019/04/16/f-35b-allowed-essex-arg-to-flex-new-blue-water-capabilities-in-absence-of-carrier-nearby

F-35 Software Upgrade Program Will Field Capabilities Sooner, But Delay Purchase of New Fighters

U.S. Marine Sgt. Maj. Allen Goodyear, the squadron sergeant major for Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, signals for an F-35B Lightning II to take off from the flight deck of the USS Essex (LHD-2) during Exercise Dawn Blitz. US Marine Corps Photo

CAPITOL HILL – A move to a continuous upgrade system for the Joint Strike Fighter software will help pilots deploy with the latest and greatest warfighting capabilities, but the move is costing...

https://news.usni.org/2019/04/11/f-35-software-upgrade-program-will-field-capabilities-sooner-but-delay-purchase-of-new-fighters

2019 U.S. Marine Corps Aviation Plan

The following is the recently released 2019 U.S. Marine Corps aviation plan.

From the report

The Marine Corps is an inherently naval organization – a combined arms force organized, manned, trained and equipped to fight from the sea into austere environments. As a key component of the air-ground team, Marine aviation exists to support the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) commander and the scheme of maneuver. The goal of Marine Corps aviation, therefore, is to attain and maintain combat...

https://news.usni.org/2019/04/05/2019-u-s-marine-corps-aviation-plan

Navy Fighter Readiness Nearing 80 Percent Mission Capable Target

Cmdr. Leslie Mintz, executive officer of the “Blacklions” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 213, inspects an F/A-18F Super Hornet prior to her flight on board Naval Air Station Oceana, Va.. US Navy Photo

CAPITOL HILL – The Navy now boasts its Super Hornet fleet is routinely 63 to 75 percent mission capable, a significant jump from the fall when the Navy struggled to keep half of its F-18s ready to fly.

In September, then-Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis issued a memo to the service secretaries...

https://news.usni.org/2019/04/05/42436

Marines Accelerating F-35C Procurement to Support Carrier Deployments; F-35B Buys Would Slow

An F-35C Lightning II assigned to the “Argonauts” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 sits chained on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) on Dec. 9, 2018. US Navy Photo

CAPITOL HILL – The Marine Corps is accelerating its F-35C carrier variant Joint Strike Fighter procurement and slowing its F-35B vertical landing variant to support Navy deployment requirements, the Marines’ top aviator told lawmakers today.

In its Fiscal Year 2020 budget request the...

https://news.usni.org/2019/04/04/marines-accelerating-f-35c-procurement-support-carrier-deployments-f-35b-buys-slow

Marines Sundown Last EA-6B Prowler Squadron

Two U.S. Marine Corps EA-6B Prowler assigned to Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (VMAQ) 2, fly off the coast of North Carolina, Feb 28, 2019. US Marine Corps

The Marine Corps will deactivate its final electronic attack squadron in a Friday ceremony, sending its trusty but aging EA-6B Prowler jet into retirement.

The “Death Jesters” of Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 2 (VMAQ-2) will formally be decommissioned and the Prowler retired during a “sundown” ceremony at Cherry...

https://news.usni.org/2019/03/08/marines-sundown-last-ea-6b-prowler-squadron

13th MEU, Essex ARG Return Home, Ending First F-35B Combat Deployment

An F-35B Lightning II assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), moves into position to land aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), Jan. 9, 2019. US Marine Corps photo.

Marines and sailors with the Essex Amphibious Ready Group and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit flowed off their ships and back home on Thursday, ending an eight-month deployment that included the first-ever combat strikes by the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter.

Am...

https://news.usni.org/2019/02/28/13th-meu-essex-arg-return-home-ending-first-f-35b-combat-deployment

First Marine F-35B Combat Deployment Hints at New Roles for Amphibious Ready Group

An F-35B Lightning II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), prepares to land aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), while another F-35B Lightning II flies over on Dec. 4, 2018. US Marine Corps Photo

After eight months at sea with a squadron of F-35B Lighting II Joint Strike Fighters, the Marines and the Navy are seeing how the next-generation aircraft will expand the effectiveness of U.S. amphibious forces.

The Essex Amphibious...

https://news.usni.org/2019/02/27/first-marine-f-35b-combat-deployment-hints-at-new-roles-for-amphibious-ready-group

Marines’ 2020 Budget Will Prioritize Near-Term Readiness, Upgrades for High-End Fight

Lance Cpl. Nicholas Zachary (left) and Lance Cpl. Luis Saldana both assigned to Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 214, conduct routine maintenance on an AV-8B Harrier on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6) on May 8, 2017. US Navy Photo

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Marine Corps wants to spend nearly a third of its Fiscal Year 2020 money on modernizing its equipment and nearly another third on rebuilding readiness, a top officer said.

Lt. Gen. Brian Beaudreault, deputy commandant...

https://news.usni.org/2019/01/24/marines-fy-2020-budget-will-prioritize-near-term-readiness-upgrades-for-high-end-fight

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