Marine Corps' First F-35C Squadron For Carriers Fully Operational At Miramar

San Diego CA

02 July, 2021

6:48 PM

Description

By Chris Jennewein, Times of San Diego July 2, 2021 The first squadron of Marine Corps F-35C Lightning II stealth jets for use from the Navy's aircraft carriers is fully operational at Miramar, the service announced Thursday. The Marines are already flying the F-35B short-take-off version from amphibious assault ships, but the "C" version with longer wings and greater fuel capacity is designed to be flown by both Navy and Marine pilots from nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. "VMFA-314 is the first F-35C squadron in the Marine Corps to declare FOC. They are now full up round and bring the incredible 5th generation capability to 3rd MAW. They will deploy as part of a carrier strike group next year," said Maj. Gen. Christopher Mahoney, commanding general of the 3rd Marine Air Wing. The Marines did not say which carrier the squadron would deploy on, but the USS Carl Vinson recently returned from the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard following modifications to support the new jets. The "Black Knights" fighter-attack squadron received their first F-35C at Miramar in January 2020 and now have 10 planes operational. The stealthy aircraft can fly 1.6 times the speed of sound and has a combat radius of 400 nautical miles, or approximately the distance from San Diego to San Francisco. Times of San Diego is an independent online news site covering the San Diego metropolitan area. Our journalists report on politics, crime, business, sports, education, arts, the military and everyday life in San Diego. No subscription is required, and you can sign up for a free daily newsletter with a summary of the latest news.