{"id":31937,"date":"2024-07-31T20:56:51","date_gmt":"2024-07-31T20:56:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2024\/07\/31\/marines-hit-operational-status-with-second-carrier-capable-f35-c-unit\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T21:02:29","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T21:02:29","slug":"marines-hit-operational-status-with-second-carrier-capable-f35-c-unit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2024\/07\/31\/marines-hit-operational-status-with-second-carrier-capable-f35-c-unit\/","title":{"rendered":"Marines hit operational status with second carrier-capable F35-C unit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A West Coast Marine F-35C Lightning II squadron has achieved <a href=\"https:\/\/samm.dsca.mil\/glossary\/initial-operational-capability-ioc\" target=\"_blank\">initial operational capability<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 311, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, hit that key milestone Wednesday, 1st Lt. Madison Walls, wing spokeswoman told Marine Corps Times. The status means a unit can employ, maintain and train on the jet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, unit conducted its first independent live ordnance operations July 25.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cInitial operational capability is a milestone and achievement in readiness,\u201d said Lt. Col. Michael Fisher, commanding officer of VMFA-311 in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.3rdmaw.marines.mil\/Media-Room\/Stories\/News-Article-Display\/Article\/3856612\/marine-corps-second-f-35c-lightning-ii-squadron-declares-initial-operational-ca\/\" target=\"_blank\">statement<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s all on the backs of the Marines out there. What they do in their day-to-day actions is what made this possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link smg-interstitial-link--fallback wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marinecorpstimes.com\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2024\/02\/09\/east-coast-marine-f-35-squadron-reaches-initial-operational-status\/#:~:text=The%20F%2D35B%20is%20a,among%20all%20the%20military%20branches.\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__fallback-link\">East Cost F35 squadron reaches initial operational status<\/a><\/aside>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The squadron, also known as the Tomcats, flew more than 900 sorties, which equals nearly 1,700 flight hours and another 800 simulator hours and 2,400 maintenance actions to reach initial operational capability, according to a service release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe Tomcats have a storied history that includes legends such as Ted Williams and John Glenn, and participation in every major conflict since World War II,\u201d Maj. Gen. James Wellons, commanding general of 3rd MAW, said in the release. \u201cToday\u2019s Marines add another chapter to that legacy with the introduction of the F-35C and fifth-generation capabilities to VMFA-311.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"8192\" height=\"5464\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/F35-pilot-and-ground-guide.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-70687\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/F35-pilot-and-ground-guide.jpg.jpg 8192w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/F35-pilot-and-ground-guide.jpg.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/F35-pilot-and-ground-guide.jpg.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/F35-pilot-and-ground-guide.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/F35-pilot-and-ground-guide.jpg.jpg?resize=1536,1025 1536w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/F35-pilot-and-ground-guide.jpg.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 8192px) 100vw, 8192px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">VMFA-251 has received its first F-35C Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter, like the VMFA 311-assigned aircraft seen here. (Lance Cpl. Jennifer Sanchez\/Marine Corps)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2020, the squadron deactivated its AV-8 Harrier jets and then reactivated in April 2023 with 84 Marines and one F-35, reflecting the Marine Corps\u2019 move to fifth-generation fighter aircraft. The transition has resulted in a gradual reduction in Harriers and F\/A-18 Hornets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Corps\u2019 two F-35C squadrons, VMFA-311 and VMFA-314, are both stationed at Miramar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The VMFA-314, or Black Knights, reached initial operational capability in 2020, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marinecorpstimes.com\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2020\/12\/06\/the-marine-corps-first-f-35c-squadron-is-ready-to-deploy-on-carriers\/\" target=\"_blank\">Marine Corps Times previously reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The F-35C is specifically engineered for carrier-based operations, featuring heavier landing gear and enlarged, foldable wings designed to facilitate catapult launches and arrestments on aircraft carriers. The foldable wingtips also facilitate easier storage on the carrier deck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The \u201cC\u201d variant holds more fuel than other versions of the single-seat jet, with nearly 20,000 pounds of internal fuel capacity for long-range flights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe next step for VMFA-311 is full operational capability, attained when VMFA-311 receives its complete inventory of ten F-35C aircraft, projected for fiscal year 2025,\u201d according to the release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marinecorpstimes.com\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2024\/07\/05\/corps-reactivates-east-coast-helicopter-squadron-it-closed-in-2022\/\" target=\"_blank\">Marine Corps<\/a> has used the F-35B for years. The \u201cB\u201d variant, built to use short runways and flat-decked amphibious assault ships, is capable of short take-offs and vertical landings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Currently, the Corps has eight operational F-35B squadrons and two training squadrons, totaling over 100 F-35B aircraft globally.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A West Coast Marine F-35C Lightning II squadron has achieved initial operational capability.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":70684,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":7,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[7,160,36],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3481],"class_list":["post-31937","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-air","category-daily-news-roundup","category-newsletters"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"XTJ72SERKVBNBOXLFJ4CLBCXUU","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2024\/07\/31\/marines-hit-operational-status-with-second-carrier-capable-f35-c-unit\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented 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