Marine Corps Adds 5th F-35B Squadron [VMFA-225]

[spazsinbad]

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/

OLD INSIGNIA (AW = All Weather): https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-jbg7mp3 ... 204778.jpg

[weasel1962]

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

[XanderCrews]

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.

[Corsair1963]

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."

Has something changed??? As USN Strike Fighter Squadron VFA-147 was suppose to be the first F-35C squadron to deploy on the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70).........

[weasel1962]

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.

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.

[XanderCrews]

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.

Personnel costs are the biggest part, and the USMC has already talked about getting smaller overall. Biden is looking to start a war, or expand one already ongoing. Even Saint Bernie of Peace is a war guy and pro F-35. when Biden won Defense stocks went through the roof. That doesn't happen because people think there's going to be cuts. The pentagon backed him to the hilt and he made a Raytheon guy the secretary of defense.

its "game on", and everyone knows it.

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

Spare me

[spazsinbad]

Vikings fly in as the Marine Corps' latest F-35 squadron
30 Sep 2021 Cpl. Levi Voss 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

"MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. – (September 30, 2021) Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing conducted its first flight with the F-35B Lightning II in Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona on September 25, 2021.

The first flight was conducted in support of Marine Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course 1-22 and comes shortly after the squadron transitioned from the F/A-18D Hornet to the F-35B. The event, formally labeled Fighter Integration 1, was to execute defensive counter air in order to protect a friendly location from attack from enemy fighters and bombers by leveraging fighter integration tactics between Marine legacy F/A-18’s and fifth generation F-35B’s.

After receiving their first F-35B in May, the primary task for the VMFA-225 “Vikings” to successfully transition to an F-35B squadron was getting their Marines in place and establishing the battle rhythm for the maintainers. The squadron doubled in size from May to September of this year and while each Marine went through advanced training, VMFA-225 simultaneously built the new maintenance department.

“We were accepting new aircraft, tools and support equipment while building the processes to execute effective maintenance on our jets,” said Major Randy Brazile, executive officer of VMFA-225. “Prior to our first flight, we were inspected multiple times and certified safe to execute flight operations by 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.”

According to Maj. Brazile, this flight is not the end of the transition for the Vikings. The squadron will now focus on expanding their capacity in maintenance and pilot qualifications as they work toward their Initial Operations Capable (IOC) certification. This requires the Marines of VMFA-225 to continue to build their experience as the squadron grows from eight F-35Bs to ten. Also, this requires the pilots to train toward the mission essential tasks until each pilot is capable of executing all core mission sets of a Marine Fighter Attack Squadron.

The decision to transition to the F-35B comes in accordance with the Marine Corps’ Force Design 2030, brought forward by, Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. David Berger. Force Design was introduced to provide a more potent deterrent to conflict and a more lethal warfighting capability, while maintaining our reputation as the world’s premier naval force-in-readiness.

As highlighted in most of the Commandant’s literature regarding Force Design, the F-35B will play a key role in his vision for Marine Corps’ role in the future fight. Aligned with unmanned aerial vehicles, F-35s will comprise the entirety of Marine Corps’ Tactical Aviation by 2030. As the fifth operational F-35B squadron, VMFA-225 will have a significant role in developing the tactics, techniques and procedures employed by Marine Aviation once complete with the redesign. For instance, by 2022 when VMFA-225 is fully operational capable, the squadron will be in a unique position, as a member of the Marine Corps’ only MAG comprised of solely F-35Bs and MQ-9 Reapers to coordinate with adjacent MAG assets. The squadron will also be at the forefront of the Marine Corps’ development of the future Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).

“We expect that the squadron will be one of the first, if not the first, F-35B squadrons to deploy on a MEU in its entirety as a ten plane squadron vice the traditional six plane detachment that is currently being used and has stood in place for decades under the previous AV-8B MEU support construct,” said Lt. Col. Alexander Goodno, commanding officer of VMFA-225.

This change in physical construct will bring an entirely new capability to the MEU and change how it is employed in future contingencies.

Transitioning to the F-35B Lightning II provides the Vikings with the ability to once again project power in areas where the U.S. might face a peer adversary. The F-35B also enables the Vikings to return to their maritime roots. While the squadron always possessed the capability with the A-6A Intruder and F/A-18D Hornet, not since the squadron maintained A-4C Skyhawks in the 1960’s has it been called upon to deploy forward from the sea on U.S. Navy ships. With the transition to the F-35B, the Vikings will find themselves regularly deployed on U.S. Navy amphibious ships.

Building from a squadron that, in January consisted of ten Marines and zero aircraft, to now well over 200 Marines and eight aircraft, they have met and exceeded expectations, according to Lt. Col. Goodno.

“By laying a solid foundation focused first on the Marine and Sailor and then on establishing a culture ingrained with standard adherences, we soared through all safe for flight inspections without misstep,” said Goodno. “Further, we did so ahead of schedule and in position so that once certified we were able to support flight operations at a pace that surpasses what previous squadron stand ups for an F-35B operational squadron have been able to accomplish.”

3rd MAW continue to “Fix, Fly, and Fight” as the Marine Corps’ largest aircraft wing, and remains combat-ready, deployable on short notice, and lethal when called into action."

Source: https://www.dvidshub.net/news/406465/vi ... 5-squadron