The Marine Corps' First Carrier-Capable F-35 Squadron Is Ready for Combat
The Marine Corps' first F-35C carrier-variant Joint Strike Fighter squadron has officially been declared ready for combat.
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314 of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, said its F-35Cs have achieved initial operational capability, or IOC, authorizing the aircraft for worldwide carrier deployment operations, according to a service release.
"The F-35 is an expeditionary platform that extends the reach of our Marines and machines, and increases our ability to support joint and allied partners at a moment's notice," Maj. Gen. Christopher Mahoney, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing commanding general, said in a statement.
"By effectively employing the F-35, [Marine Air-Ground Task Force] commanders have the potential to dominate our adversaries in a joint battlespace, in the air and out at sea."
Officials said a number of standards had to be met before an aircraft reached IOC, including a minimum number of Marines trained to fly and support the stealth fighter.
The squadron's first F-35C arrived in January; officials in March said at the time that VMFA-314, known as the "Black Knights," had achieved its "safe for flight" milestone, bringing the unit one step closer to deployment. Officials did not respond to questions about how many F-35Cs the squadron has now.
The Marine Corps has been first to reach a number of F-35 milestones. Its F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing variant was first to achieve IOC in 2015, ahead of Navy and Air Force counterparts.
In 2018, the F-35B made its combat debut, conducting its first strike in Afghanistan. The F-35B first deployed aboard the USS Wasp with the Pacific-based 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in March 2018, marking the first maritime operational deployment for the aircraft.
The Air Force's F-35A achieved IOC in 2016. The Navy's Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 "Argonauts" out of Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, reached IOC last year following carrier qualifications aboard the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson. VFA-147 the service's first operational F-35C squadron is scheduled to conduct its first deployment aboard the Vinson in 2021.
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/12/02/marine-corps-first-carrier-capable-f-35-squadron-ready-combat.html