According to the statement of the USMC (United States Marine Corps) head of Aviation Lt. Gen. Jon Davis , the F-35B is “ready to go right now” if it is needed to fly combat missions. Despite fact that F-35B is still being tested.

Lt. Gen. Jon Davis, deputy commandant for USMC aviation said, that Marines F-35B could be deployed even now to fight ISIS: “We’re ready to do that.” He also stated: “If we think we need to do that, we will”.

The Marine Corps’ first F-35B squadron is expected to arrive in Japan in January and then go to sea with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in the spring of 2018. The service’s second F-35B squadron is expected to go to sea in the summer of 2018.

In testing, the F-35B has proved to be “phenomenally successful,” showing that it can easily destroy the most advanced enemy aircraft defenses and fighters, Davis said. In fact, F-35B pilots made a demonstration of the aircraft’s capabilities last month more challenging than Davis had asked for because they did not feel it was difficult enough, he said.

All versions of The F-35 JSF, together with F-22 Raptor, various types drones and other sophisticated aircraft and equipment, will give the U.S. and its Allies strategic advantage in the air during incoming decades.

 

Photo: Four F-35Bs from Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 (VMFAT-501) fly near their base a MCAS Beaufort, S.C. (Lockheed Martin)
Source: Top Marine aviator: F-35B is ready for war, www.defensenews.com
Author: Daniel Kasprzycki