Insider reports that the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing said in a statement last week that Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314 has become the first USMC F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter squadron to achieve full operational capability, “meaning it is now fully prepared to wage war from Navy aircraft carriers.” The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing said that the initial operational capability enabled “VMFA-314 to deploy the F-35C onto aircraft carriers where they will be able to support combat operations anywhere in the world.” 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing commanding general Maj. Gen. Christopher Mahoney said in a statement that the squadron is “now full up round and bring the incredible 5th generation capability to 3rd MAW.” Mahoney said that the squadron “will deploy as part of a Carrier Strike Group next year.”
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Tag: F-35C
Canada Remains on Track to Pick New Fighter Jets to Replace CF-18s
The Canadian Press reports that according to Canada’s Department of National Defence Assistant Deputy Minister of Material Troy Crosby, officials remain on track to ending its “decade-long search for a new fighter jet for the Royal Canadian Air Force next year despite challenges and delays from the pandemic.” In an interview with the Canadian Press, Crosby said, “That is a project where COVID has created some challenges. … Despite all of that, I still see the evaluation being completed this year. And that would get us to a point where we could enter whatever the resulting agreements or contracts are next year in 2022.” The “aircraft competing to replace the CF-18 are Lockheed Martin’s F-35, the Boeing Super Hornet and the Saab Gripen.”
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US Marine Corps’ F-35C Carrier-Variant Squadron Declared Ready for Combat
Military.com reports that the US Marine Corps’ “first F-35C carrier-variant Joint Strike Fighter squadron has officially been declared ready for combat.” According to a USMC release, “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.” Military.com adds that 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing commanding general Maj. Gen. Christopher Mahoney said in a statement that 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.”
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MQ-25 Stingray Conducts First-Ever Refueling of F-35C
The Navy Times reported that a Boeing MQ-25 Stingray conducted its first inflight refueling with a US Navy F-35C jet last week. The MQ-25 and F-35C took off from the MidAmerica St. Louis airport and refueled at an altitude of 10,000 feet and 225 knot speed. The latest refueling follows prior tests where a MQ-25 refueled an E-2D Advanced Hawkeye and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
Full Story (Navy TImes)