The Marine Corps achieved one other first for its F-35 program in early January as an F-35C squadron deployed on an plane provider for the primary time.
Marine Fighter Assault Squadron 314, (VMFA-314), based mostly out of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, left San Diego Jan. 3 aboard the plane provider Abraham Lincoln, in response to a Marine Corps press launch.
The squadron, also referred to as the Black Knights, was the primary Marine Corps unit to transition to the F-35C in January 2020 and the primary squadron to declare full operational functionality for the F-35C in July 2021.
“The Black Knight’s deployment of F-35C Lightning II aboard USS Abraham Lincoln is the latest chapter within the Marine Corps’ lengthy historical past of naval integration,” Maj. Gen. Bradford J. Gering, the commander of third Marine Air Wing, mentioned in a press launch.
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The F-35C variant of the Lightning II was designed to take off of huge Navy plane carriers. The Marine Corps additionally fields the F-35B vertical takeoff variant and already has deployed F-35B squadrons on plane carriers and amphibious assault ships.
“The upcoming deployment represents years of onerous work and innovation by the Marines and Sailors of VMFA-314, MAG-11, and third MAW,” the final added. “It additionally reinforces our dedication to fielding essentially the most deadly and prepared Navy-Marine Corps power as we mission warfighting capabilities all through the Indo-Pacific area, or globally wherever our nation calls.”
The Marine Corps hopes the F-35C’s lengthy vary fires and digital warfare capabilities will improve the forces capability to function within the Pacific.
“Having this asset obtainable enormously will increase the Marine Corps’ capability to offer safety to our allied nations and protect a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Lt. Col. Brendan M. Walsh, the squadron’s commanding officer, mentioned within the press launch.
The deployment of the F-35C just isn’t the one historic second for the Abraham Lincoln’s deployment.
Capt. Amy Bauernschmidt, the provider’s commanding officer, is the primary lady to steer a nuclear provider in U.S. Navy historical past. She took command of the ship in August 2021.