Marine Fighter Assault Squadron (VMFA) 314 of third Marine Plane Wing (MAW) has marked a key milestone for Marine Corps historical past as they departed San Diego Bay with Service Air Wing 9 aboard the united statesAbraham Lincoln (CVN-72) as the primary Marine squadron to deploy the F-35C on an plane service. The Marine Corps possessing the potential to deploy the F-35C is important because the F-35C was designed and constructed particularly for plane service operations and brings with it the power to boost the inherent battlespace consciousness of all naval plane it operates alongside. Deploying this asset in a contested maritime area supplies the Marine Corps a versatile, cellular pressure that gives safety to the US and allied nations overseas, contributes to regional stability, and expands the U.S. army benefit at sea.

third MAW has lately demonstrated the F-35’s strike capabilities by using its F-35 squadrons in long-range aerial strike workout routines. Throughout Train Summer time Fury 21, a third MAW squadron flew the F-35 from Miramar to Washington State, a distance of multiple thousand miles, to ship long-range precision fires on a delegated goal. Important technological developments of plane and aggressive army coaching comparable to this have contributed to the Marine Corps’ capacity to uphold free and open worldwide order by deterring potential adversarial aggression.

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F-35C Lightning II, assigned to Marine Fighter Assault Squadron (VMFA) 314, arrive aboard the united statesAbraham Lincoln (CVN 72) as they put together to deploy alongside the Navy as an built-in a part of Service Strike Group 3. (U.S. Marine Corps picture by 1stLt. Charles Allen/Launched)

“The Black Knight’s deployment of F-35C Lightning II aboard USS Abraham Lincoln is the most recent chapter within the Marine Corps’ lengthy historical past of naval integration The upcoming deployment represents years of laborious work and innovation by the Marines and Sailors of VMFA-314, MAG-11, and third MAW,” mentioned Maj. Gen. Bradford J. Gering, third MAW commanding common. ”

“Our capacity to function the F-35C within the Pacific significantly will increase the Marine Corps’ naval expeditionary pressure capabilities by offering us the capability to make use of probably the most superior digital warfare capabilities on any plane immediately in help of fleet operations,” mentioned Lt. Col. Brendan M. Walsh, VMFA-314 commanding officer.

This deployment comes as a culminating effort as VMFA-314 accomplished its workups final 12 months with Service Air Wing 9 onboard the united statesAbraham Lincoln, concluding with VMFA-314 finishing their last built-in coaching cycle together with different components of Service Strike Group Three in December because the Marine Corps continues to develop its fifth Technology strike fighter capabilities. VMFA-314 was the primary Marine Corps squadron to transition to the F-35C variant of the joint strike fighter after retiring its legacy F/A-18A/C plane and receiving its first F-35C on 21 January 2020. Now because the Marine Corps continues to develop as a modernized naval pressure, deploying squadrons, comparable to VMFA-314, to key strategic maritime places allows the Marine Corps the potential to discourage adversarial aggression, and, if required, decisively win in battle.

First US Marine Corps F-35C Squadron Deploys on Nimitz-class Aircraft Carrier USS Abraham Lincoln
F-35C Lightning II, assigned to Marine Fighter Assault Squadron (VMFA) 314, arrive aboard the united statesAbraham Lincoln (CVN 72) as they put together to deploy alongside the Navy as an built-in a part of Service Strike Group 3. (U.S. Marine Corps picture by 1stLt. Charles Allen/Launched)