Tag Archives: F-35B

Lawmaker Worries Marine Corps Investing Too Heavily In Aviation Over Ground Vehicles

Lawmaker Worries Marine Corps Investing Too Heavily In Aviation Over Ground Vehicles

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U.S. Marine Corps pilots maneuver a CH-53K King Stallion as it delivers a 12,000 pound external load after completing a 110 nautical mile mission during the two-week initial operational test (OT-B1) conducted at Sikorsky. Sikorsky photo.

The Marine Corps’ top financial officer told lawmakers that the service considers its modernization programs properly balanced between aviation and ground needs, while acknowledging that there hasn’t been enough money in recent years to buy the ground assets at a proper pace. Read More →

First Marine Corps F-35B Squadron Leaves for Japan

First Marine Corps F-35B Squadron Leaves for Japan

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USS AMERICA, At Sea - An F-35B Lightning II aircraft completes Envelope Expansion Testing during a Short Take-off Vertical Landing aboard USS America, Oct. 30, 2016. US Marine Corps Photo

USS AMERICA, At Sea – An F-35B Lightning II aircraft completes Envelope Expansion Testing during a Short Take-off Vertical Landing aboard USS America, Oct. 30, 2016. US Marine Corps Photo

This post has been updated with an additional comment from VMFA-121’s operation officer.

Ten of the Marine Corps’ newest fighter jets took off from the runway at Yuma Marine Corps Air Station, Ariz., on Monday and began the long trans-Pacific flight to their squadron’s new home in Japan, service officials announced today. Read More →

Interview: Lt. Gen. Bailey Says F-35, Closer Partnerships Will Enhance Operations in 2017

Interview: Lt. Gen. Bailey Says F-35, Closer Partnerships Will Enhance Operations in 2017

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Lt. Gen. Ronald L. Bailey on Jan. 2, 2016. US Marine Corps Photo

Lt. Gen. Ronald L. Bailey on Jan. 2, 2016. US Marine Corps Photo

This post has been modified to reflect that only USNS Lewis B. Puller (T-ESB-3) will be modified to support MV-22 operations, not the Navy’s two Expeditionary Transfer Dock ships.

THE PENTAGON – Marine Corps operations are set for some big changes in 2017 with the deployment of the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter overseas, a move towards distributed operations as called for in the Marine Corps Operating Concept, and the potential addition of more ships to move Marines around high-threat areas, the deputy commandant for plans, policies and operations told USNI News. Read More →

Opinion: Improve Land-based Electronic Warfare Aircraft Readiness

Opinion: Improve Land-based Electronic Warfare Aircraft Readiness

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Three EA-6B Prowlers belonging to each Prowler squadron aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point conducted a "Final Four" division flight aboard the air station March 1, 2016. US Marine Corps Photo

Three EA-6B Prowlers belonging to each Prowler squadron aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point conducted a “Final Four” division flight aboard the air station March 1, 2016. US Marine Corps Photo

President-Elect Donald Trump has called for hard-hitting initiatives to be included in a first-100-day thrust to make America strong again. Hoping to be included in that effort are some common-sense, low-cost changes to our land-based expeditionary electronic warfare (EW) force posture that would immediately improve operational readiness and have a positive economic effect to boot. Read More →

Top Stories 2016: U.S. Marine Corps Acquisition

Top Stories 2016: U.S. Marine Corps Acquisition

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U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Benjamin Cartwright, an infantry Marine with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion 5th Marine Regiment, launches the Instant Eye MK-2 Gen 3 unmanned aerial system during an exercise for Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory's Marine Air-Ground Task Force Integrated Experiment on Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 9, 2016. US Marine Corps photo.

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Benjamin Cartwright, an infantry Marine with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion 5th Marine Regiment, launches the Instant Eye MK-2 Gen 3 unmanned aerial system during an exercise for Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory’s Marine Air-Ground Task Force Integrated Experiment on Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 9, 2016. US Marine Corps photo.

USNI News polled its writers, naval analysts and service members on what they consider the most important military and maritime stories in 2016.

With the Navy releasing a “Design for Maintaining Maritime Superiority” and the Marines releasing a Marine Corps Operational Concept in 2016 that both call for high-end technologies to succeed in a contested maritime environment, Marine Corps acquisition this year was focused on increasing lethality, situational awareness and maneuverability for the force. Read More →

Top Stories 2016: U.S. Marine Corps Operations

Top Stories 2016: U.S. Marine Corps Operations

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USNI News polled its writers, naval analysts and service members on what they consider the most important military and maritime stories in 2016.

2016 was a year of transition for the Marine Corps, with a new operational concept and several follow-up warfighting concepts released and with the operational F-35B Joint Strike Fighter fleet preparing for its first overseas operations in 2017. Overseas operations in the Middle East, Pacific and even in the Caribbean kept the force busy, while leaders at home continued to work their way out of an ongoing aviation readiness crisis. Read More →

F-35B In Training Squadron Experienced Fire In Weapons Bay; Investigation Ongoing

F-35B In Training Squadron Experienced Fire In Weapons Bay; Investigation Ongoing

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Peter "Wizzer" Wilson and Maj. John Dirk arrive aboard USS America for STOVL DT-III, 28 October 2018. US Navy photo.

Two F-35B Joint Strike Fighters arrive aboard USS America for STOVL Developmental Test-III, 28 October 2016. US Navy photo.

An F-35B Joint Strike Fighter with the Marine Corps’ training squadron experienced a fire in its weapons bay during a training mission on Oct. 27, and the service is still investigating, according to a statement provided to USNI News. Read More →

MAWTS-1 Advancing F-35B, Marine Aviation Operations For Future Fight

MAWTS-1 Advancing F-35B, Marine Aviation Operations For Future Fight

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U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallions assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) fly in formation during FINEX-3 near Yuma, Ariz., Oct. 22, 2016. FINEX-3 was part of Weapons Tactics Instructors (WTI) course 1-17, a seven week training event hosted by MAWTS-1 cadre which emphasizes operational integration of the six functions of Marine Corps aviation in support of a Marine Air Ground Task Force. MAWTS-1 provides standardized advanced tactical training and certification of unit instructor qualifications to support Marine aviation Training and Readiness and assists in developing and employing aviation weapons and tactics. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andrew Huff)

U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallions assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) fly in formation during FINEX-3 near Yuma, Ariz., Oct. 22, 2016. FINEX-3 was part of Weapons Tactics Instructors (WTI) course 1-17, a seven week training event hosted by MAWTS-1 cadre which emphasizes operational integration of the six functions of Marine Corps aviation in support of a Marine Air Ground Task Force. US Marine Corps photo.

This article is the second in a two-part series on the future of Marine Corps aviation. To read about how F-35B Joint Strike Fighter testers and operational pilots are preparing for the plane’s first deployment, please click this link.

YUMA, Ariz. – In a glimpse of what the future of Marine Corps aviation could bring, this fall F-35B Joint Strike Fighters were operating at long ranges with the MV-22 Osprey, passing information to other aircraft and to ground forces with tablets. Unmanned aerial vehicles provided intelligence, and precision rockets hit targets in dense urban areas.

At Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron-One (MAWTS-1) and its semi-annual Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course, top aviators from around the fleet not only trained to high-end warfighting scenarios but also help advance tactics to keep up with real-world developments and conduct experiments with emerging technologies that could give Marines in the air and on the ground an edge on the battlefield. Read More →

Marines Refining F-35B Operations, Maintenance At Sea During Final Developmental Test

Marines Refining F-35B Operations, Maintenance At Sea During Final Developmental Test

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Peter "Wizzer" Wilson and Maj. John Dirk arrive aboard USS America for STOVL DT-III, 28 October 2016. US Navy photo.

Peter “Wizzer” Wilson and Maj. John Dirk arrive aboard USS America for STOVL DT-III, 28 October 2016. US Navy photo.

This article is the first in a two-part series on the future of Marine Corps aviation. To read about how MAWTS-1 is discovering how to best integrate the F-35B and other weapons systems for a high-end air fight, please click this link.

ABOARD USS AMERICA, OFF THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA – After years of testing to make sure the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter and its subsystems work as designed, the Marine Corps has a contingent of pilots and maintainers aboard USS America (LHA-6) now to ensure the new plane can operate from the amphibious ship, in a final test period ahead of next year’s first deployment. Read More →

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