F-35B Officially Operational

[jtoatoktoe]

The United States Marine Corps has declared the F-35B Officially Operational as of yesterday. I do feel the F-35B will be good for the Marines over the Harrier and maybe the Prowlers. Time will tell in comparison for the Legacy Hornets.

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121), based in Yuma, Arizona has its 10 F-35B's ready for worldwide deployment.

http://www.marines.mil/News/NewsDisplay/tabid/3258/Article/611657/us-marines-corps-declares-the-f-35b-operational.aspx

[ckfinite]

The F-35B is even a pretty big step over the F/A-18C/Ds, never mind the F-35C that the USMC is actually replacing their F/A-18s with. The B has much better sensors and the internal stores, while the C can carry 3,000lbs more payload and has a much longer laden range.

[jtoatoktoe]

So its official they are buying C's for the USMC?

[ckfinite]

Yes, as well as Bs.

[mikeCK]

B's will play on the new America Amphib assault support ships with the C's land based like the 18s are now...obviously. With the introduction of the V-22s and the F-35 to replace the harrier...the USMC really upgrade their amphibious assault capability