Navy anticipates four F-35Cs to arrive at NAS Lemoore

The Navy anticipates four F-35C aircraft to arrive at Naval Air Station Lemoore, CA, at 1:25 p.m. Pacific time today.

These will be the first F-35 carrier-variant jets to join Strike Fighter Squadron-125, the "Rough Raiders."

"The 'Rough Raiders' of VFA-125, which reactivated on Jan. 12, will be the Navy's West Coast Fleet Replacement Squadron for the F-35C Lightning II, responsible for training the next generation of naval aviators on the aircraft," according to a service statement.

Vice Adm. Mike Shoemaker, Naval Air Forces chief, Rear Adm. Roy Kelly, Navy F-35 Fleet Integration Office director, and Jeff Babione, executive vice president and general manager of the F-35 for Lockheed Martin, will speak at the aircraft arrival ceremony.

On Oct. 2, 2014, the Navy announced its plan to base the F-35C at NAS Lemoore after weighing the strategic, operational and environmental consequences. A total of 100 F-35Cs in seven Navy Pacific Fleet squadrons and the Fleet Replacement Squadron would be based at Lemoore.