Tag Archives: Lt. Gen. Jon Davis

Davis: F-35B External Weapons Give Marines 4th, 5th Generation Capabilities in One Plane

Davis: F-35B External Weapons Give Marines 4th, 5th Generation Capabilities in One Plane

Lockheed Martin test pilot Billie Flynn puts F-35B test aircraft BF-02 into pre-contact position behind a US Air Force KC-135 tanker on the range near NAS Patuxent River, Maryland on 5 September 2014. Photo courtesy F-35 Lightning II Program Office.

Lockheed Martin test pilot Billie Flynn puts F-35B test aircraft BF-02 into pre-contact position behind a US Air Force KC-135 tanker on the range near NAS Patuxent River, Md., on 5 September 2014. Photo courtesy F-35 Lightning II Program Office.

The Marine Corps’ Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) will have the stealth of a fifth-generation fighter and a weapons payload surpassing a fourth-generation fighter by the time a software upgrade is ready for fielding in 2017, the Marines’ top aviator said this week. Read More

Marines Declare Initial Operational Capability on F-35B Joint Strike Fighter

Marines Declare Initial Operational Capability on F-35B Joint Strike Fighter

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Christopher C. Bogdan (right), the Program Executive Officer for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office, and U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Jon Davis, Deputy Commandant Aviation, along with distinguished visitors from the U.S. Department of Defense and the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, watch as an F-35B lands on the flight deck of USS Wasp (LHD-1) off the coast of Virginia on May 20, 2015. US Marine Corps Photo

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Christopher C. Bogdan (right), the Program Executive Officer for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office, and U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Jon Davis, Deputy Commandant Aviation, along with distinguished visitors from the U.S. Department of Defense and the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, watch as an F-35B lands on the flight deck of USS Wasp (LHD-1) off the coast of Virginia on May 20, 2015. US Marine Corps Photo

The Marine Corps declared initial operational capability on its variant of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), after a final assessment showed the plane and its crew are not only ready to fight overseas if needed but also maintain and sustain the plane during extended operations. Read More

Davis: V-22 Aerial Refueling System Should Be Ready For Early F-35 Operations Despite 1-Year Delay

Davis: V-22 Aerial Refueling System Should Be Ready For Early F-35 Operations Despite 1-Year Delay

The Bell Boeing V-22 Program successfully completed an initial test of the V-22 Osprey performing as an aerial refueling tanker. In the August demonstration over north Texas, a V-22 equipped with a prototype aerial refueling system safely deployed, held stable, and retracted the refueling drogue as an F/A-18 Hornet flew just behind and to the side of the aircraft. Bell Boeing photo.

The Bell Boeing V-22 Program successfully completed an initial test of the V-22 Osprey performing as an aerial refueling tanker. In the August demonstration over north Texas, a V-22 equipped with a prototype aerial refueling system safely deployed, held stable, and retracted the refueling drogue as an F/A-18 Hornet flew just behind and to the side of the aircraft. Bell Boeing photo.

The Marine Corps expects to have its V-22 Aerial Refueling System (VARS) ready for early F-35B operations despite a one-year delay in securing funding, the Marines’ top aviator told USNI News. Read More

Davis: F-35Bs, Aviation Combat Elements Have 'Tremendous Capability for Growth'

Davis: F-35Bs, Aviation Combat Elements Have ‘Tremendous Capability for Growth’

F-35Bs aboard USS Wasp (LHD-1) during operational testing at sea in May 2015. US Marine Corps photo.

F-35Bs aboard USS Wasp (LHD-1) during operational testing at sea in May 2015. US Marine Corps photo.

PENTAGON – When the time comes for the Marines’ first F-35B Joint Strike Fighters (JSFs) to deploy on an amphibious assault ship, the six aircraft on the float will bring more strike, sensing and communications capabilities than the three platforms they replace, the deputy commandant for aviation said. Read More

F-35B Begins New 'Operational Readiness Inspection' This Week Before IOC Decision

F-35B Begins New ‘Operational Readiness Inspection’ This Week Before IOC Decision

An F-35B Lightning II with Marine Operational and Test Evaluation Squadron (VMX) 22 prepares to touch down aboard Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Oct. 9. US Marine Corps photo.

An F-35B Lightning II with Marine Operational and Test Evaluation Squadron (VMX) 22 prepares to touch down aboard Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Oct. 9. US Marine Corps photo.

A previous version of this story indicated the U.S. Marine Corps flies F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets. In fact, the USMC flies the F/A-18 C/D Hornet. The post has been amended.

PENTAGON – The Marine Corps added one final test before deciding whether to declare initial operational capability for the Lockheed Martin F-35B Joint Strike Fighter (JSF): a first-ever Operational Readiness Inspection. Read More

Navy Air Boss: F-35C Advanced Sensors, Situational Awareness a 'Game-Changer'

Navy Air Boss: F-35C Advanced Sensors, Situational Awareness a ‘Game-Changer’

A sailor aboard the USS Wasp (LHD-1) signals to the pilot of an F-35B to land as it arrives for the first phase of operational testing, May 18, 2015. US Marine Corps photo.

A sailor aboard the USS Wasp (LHD-1) signals to the pilot of an F-35B to land as it arrives for the first phase of operational testing, May 18, 2015. US Marine Corps photo.

NORTH ISLAND NAVAL AIR STATION, Coronado, Calif. – The Navy’s top aviator checked out a simulator for its next-generation fighter jet, the F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), on Monday and lauded its advanced capabilities that will give it a leg up compared to legacy strike aircraft. Read More

Marines: Next Generation LX(R) Capacity Key to Operating America-class Amphibious Ready Groups

Marines: Next Generation LX(R) Capacity Key to Operating America-class Amphibious Ready Groups

150427-N-MZ309-124 PACIFIC OCEAN (April 27,2015) U.S. Air Force F-16s fly over the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) during a training exercise on April 27, 2015. US Navy Photo

150427-N-MZ309-124
PACIFIC OCEAN (April 27,2015) U.S. Air Force F-16s fly over the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) during a training exercise on April 27, 2015. US Navy Photo

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The capacity the planned LX(R) amphibious warship will bring to the Navy and Marine Corps Amphibious Ready Groups (ARG) will be key to operating the first two aviation-centric America-class big deck amphibs, the Marines’ aviation head said this week. Read More

Gen. Paxton: Some Marine Units Operating at Less Than 1:2 Deployment-to-Dwell Ratio

Gen. Paxton: Some Marine Units Operating at Less Than 1:2 Deployment-to-Dwell Ratio

U.S. Marines with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa board an MV-22 Osprey during an alert force drill on Moron Air Base, Spain, March 13, 2015. US Marine Corps photo.

U.S. Marines with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa board an MV-22 Osprey during an alert force drill on Moron Air Base, Spain, March 13, 2015. US Marine Corps photo.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As much as the Marine Corps wants to increase its deployment-to-dwell ratio from the current 1:2 to the more sustainable 1:3, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. John Paxton said that some high-demand units are operating on an even tighter schedule. Read More