F-16.net

Marine Corps Adds 5th F-35B Squadron to its Force
05 Feb 2021 Richard R. Burgess

"ARLINGTON, Va. — The Marine Corps is converting a fifth squadron to the F-35B Lightning II strike fighter. In a Jan. 29 ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma, Arizona, the “Vikings” of Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 225 (VMFA(AW)-225) were re-designated Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 225 (VMFA-225) as they engaged in the process of learning to operate and maintain the F-35B version of the Lightning II, according to a release from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

The squadron retired its last F/A-18D Hornet strike fighter a year ago, on Jan. 23, 2020. VMFA-225 follow VMFAs 121, 211, 122, and 242 as the Corps’ fifth operational F-35B squadron. VMFA-225 moved from MCAS Miramar, California, to MCAS Yuma, Arizona, to join 211 and 122, both of which have flown combat missions in the Middle East. VMFAs 212 and 242 are based at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan....

...The Corps’ single F-35C squadron, VMFA-314, is scheduled to be ready for a deployment on the USS Carl Vinson in early fiscal 2022."

Source: https://seapowermagazine.org/marine-cor ... its-force/

weasel1962 wrote:This currently follows the USMC FY 2019 aviation plan. Will be interesting to see if this holds.

Marine Corps Adds 5th F-35B Squadron to its Force
05 Feb 2021 Richard R. Burgess


...The Corps’ single F-35C squadron, VMFA-314, is scheduled to be ready for a deployment on the USS Carl Vinson in early fiscal 2022."

XanderCrews wrote:

weasel1962 wrote:This currently follows the USMC FY 2019 aviation plan. Will be interesting to see if this holds.

It very well may. I don't think theres going to be deep cuts to the military. The US is just going to punt and run up debt, much like the rest of the west. We gave up responsible spending decades ago, and now we are going to give up even pretending to have responsible spending.

weasel1962 wrote:Budget wise, the corp at least have already gotten budgets approved for 161 out of 353 Bs up to FY 21. Cs are slower with 139 budgeted.

With earlier announcements, looks like USMC C squadrons (314 & 311) will follow together with 214, That means the plan to keep the remaining harriers solely at Cherry point looks like being on course.
https://seapowermagazine.org/marine-cor ... in-f-35cs/

Considering the bi-partisan support for the F-35 program shown in the house, I agree there is unlikely to be deep cuts to the F-35 program at least. Not sure about the rest of the military.

At least they won't have funds being channeled to build a wall.