F-35B declared operational with USMC

MikeD

MikeD

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with VMFA-121 at MCAS Yuma, as IOC is declared with the first F-35B fleet squadron. F-35Bs of the training squadron, VMFAT-501 are also in operation. Follow-on squadrons will be VMA-211 and 311, AV-8B Harrier squadrons also at MCAS Yuma, to transfer to the F-35B next year and in 2018, respectively. Then VMFA-122, an F/A-18 squadron the following year. VMFA-121 is scheduled to transfer to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, in approximately 2-3 years, bringing the F-35 to the Pacific theatre.

http://www.marines.mil/News/NewsDis...nes-corps-declares-the-f-35b-operational.aspx
 
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In April [2014], the program accepted a DOT&E recommendation that the Block 2B Operational Utility Evaluation (OUE), which was being planned for CY15, should not be conducted and that instead, resources should be focused on conducting limited assessments of Block 2B capability and re-allocated to assist in the completion of development and testing of Block 3i and Block 3F capabilities.

- This recommendation was based on DOT&E’s review of Block 2B progress and assessment of the program’s ability to start the Block 2B OUE as planned without creating a significant impact to Block 3F development.

- The Program Office, JSF Operational Test Team, and Service representatives then began working to “re-scope” use of operational test aircraft and operational test activities in lieu of the OUE—detailed planning is still under development. The scope of the operational test activities will be limited until the flight restrictions induced by the engine failure are removed from the operational test aircraft. Availability of the operational test aircraft will continue to be affected in CY15 and CY16 by the depot time required for modifications.
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Oh, Marines… oh, concurrency.

I will give them credit for hitting right in the middle of the (six-month) window they predicted a year ago.
 
MikeD said:
with VMFA-121 at MCAS Yuma, as IOC is declared with the first F-35B fleet squadron. F-35Bs of the training squadron, VMFAT-501 are also in operation. Follow-on squadrons will be VMA-211 and 311, AV-8B Harrier squadrons also at MCAS Yuma, to transfer to the F-35B next year and in 2018, respectively. Then VMFA-122, an F/A-18 squadron the following year. VMFA-121 is scheduled to transfer to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, in approximately 2-3 years, bringing the F-35 to the Pacific theatre.

http://www.marines.mil/News/NewsDis...nes-corps-declares-the-f-35b-operational.aspx
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NAVAIR scuttlebutt: The Marines are so confident in the F-35 that they are probably going to ask for Growlers to replace their Prowlers.
 
Pilot Fighter said:
NAVAIR scuttlebutt: The Marines are so confident in the F-35 that they are probably going to ask for Growlers to replace their Prowlers.
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Hell even the F-117, we only went with SEAD support if at all possible, even though in theory it shouldn't be needed. It wasn't in Desert Storm, but the Serb shoot down caused that spook.

For what the USMC primarily will be using them for, it's hard to see why stealth is even needed.
 
USMC doctrine and stealth aren't in the same playbook.

But all things Marine, they'll take whatever DOD hands out and mold it into MAGTF operations.
 
Hacker15e said:
Even Kelly Johnson and Ben Rich couldn't have predicted the AF's retardation with respect to ATO routes, as well as NATO countries leaking the ATO to the adversary....
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All kinds of clown act surrounding that whole incident.
 
SurferLucas said:
For those of us who don't speak military...can you elaborate? I remember the incident, but don't recall too many details other than they sold stuff to the Chinese after.
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Basically we forgot the lessons of Linebacker II. We had the 117s flying repetitive routes night after night. There here operational security problems with plans being kept under wraps, there were steps taken to spoof visual observers outside the gates of the Italy base. The Serbs were able to connect dots and know where to roughly cue their SAM systems to look.

117 has no RWR or missile warning gear onboard, so the pilot was lucky to visually see the SAM launches, even with the lousy visibility from that plane.

Then failing to bomb the wreckage after the shoot down. But....we got some of that later when we took it out at the embassy.....
 
MikeD said:
Basically we forgot the lessons of Linebacker II. We had the 117s flying repetitive routes night after night. There here operational security problems with plans being kept under wraps, there were steps taken to spoof visual observers outside the gates of the Italy base. The Serbs were able to connect dots and know where to roughly cue their SAM systems to look.

117 has no RWR or missile warning gear onboard, so the pilot was lucky to visually see the SAM launches, even with the lousy visibility from that plane.

Then failing to bomb the wreckage after the shoot down. But....we got some of that later when we took it out at the embassy.....
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Wait, wait...you're saying that history repeated itself?! (But still, good to know...I was in HS when it happened, just remembered thinking "WTF, how did that happen?")
 
On a related note, the last CH-46 will be retired today.

http://blog.nasm.si.edu/aviation/phrog-farewell/

It's kinda depressing to know that the aircraft I spent 90% of my time maintaining isn't even in service anymore.

388796_10150473939671714_1999534460_n.jpg
 
knot4u said:
I think you're wrong, should every taxpayer be able to scrutinize the expenses our military incurs without having a working knowledge of how it operates?
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Yes.

You, with all due respect, are an internet blowhard.
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I don't give a damn about your opinion. I think you are an internet troll.
 
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A better question is: How much money was blown to bring the Block 2 software into operation so the marines could brag a notional goal instead of waiting for Block 3?

The aircraft still doesn't have any weapons and DAS is still a dream. For at least the next 15 months it is a very expensive trainer.
 
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