Marine Corps deploys first F-35C squadron on aircraft carrier

The Marine Corps has deployed its first squadron with the Navy's F-35C on an aircraft carrier, the service announced Wednesday.

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing departed San Diego aboard the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) on Monday, the Marine Corps said in a press release.

The F-35C reached initial operational capability in December 2020, signifying the service had enough mission-ready aircraft and trained Marines and pilots to deploy the F-35C onto aircraft carriers.

The Marine Corps F-35 variant is the F-35B, but the service is also acquiring a small number of F-35Cs.

Lt. Col. Brendan Walsh, VMFA-314 commanding officer, said in the press release that deploying the F-35C in the Pacific increases the service’s ability to provide support to U.S. allies in the region.

“Our ability to operate the F-35C in the Pacific greatly increases the Marine Corps’ naval expeditionary force capabilities by providing us the capacity to employ the most advanced electronic warfare capabilities on any aircraft today in support of fleet operations,” he said.

VMFA-314 is the first squadron to transition to the F-35C from the retiring F/A-18A/C. The squadron received its first F-35C in January 2020, and completed its final integrated training cycle with other elements of Carrier Strike Group Three in December.