{"id":19482,"date":"2020-12-06T18:13:18","date_gmt":"2020-12-06T18:13:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/12\/06\/the-marine-corps-first-f-35c-squadron-is-ready-to-deploy-on-carriers\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T20:35:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T20:35:44","slug":"the-marine-corps-first-f-35c-squadron-is-ready-to-deploy-on-carriers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2020\/12\/06\/the-marine-corps-first-f-35c-squadron-is-ready-to-deploy-on-carriers\/","title":{"rendered":"Marine Corps\u2019 first F-35C squadron ready to deploy on carriers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Marine Corps\u2019 first squadron of F-35C Lightning II stealth fighter jets is now fully capable of deploying on board aircraft carriers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, also known as the Black Knights, announced initial operational capability for the F-35C variant of the joint strike fighter in a press release on Tuesday, calling the platform \u201cthe most advanced stealth fighter jets the world has ever seen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VMFA-314, part of Marine Aircraft Group 11 and based out of Miramar, California, received its first F-35C<\/a> in January. The squadron has spent most of the past year preparing pilots and maintenance personnel to operate, maintain and repair the new jets, which feature significantly upgraded stealth capabilities, avionics and sensors from the legacy F\/A-18A-C Hornets the squadron retired earlier in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Achieving initial operating capability means VMFA-314 has met Headquarters Marine Corps\u2019 <\/a>standards for the number of trained Marines, mission-ready aircraft and trained pilots for deployment, according to the press release.<\/p>\n\n\n\t