Second F-35B squadron becomes operational Thursday

Marine Attack Squadron-211 will be officially redesignated as the Marine Corps' second Joint Strike Fighter operational squadron on Thursday, the service announced this week.

Up until now, VMA-211 had been an AV-8B Harrier squadron. The short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing F-35B is slated to replace the Marine Corps' aging Harrier fleet. The AV-8B Harrier was designed to attack and destroy surface and air targets, escort helicopters, engage in air-to-air defense, provide reconnaissance and apply offensive and defensive support with its arsenal of missiles, bombs and an onboard 25 mm cannon.

"The squadron flew its final flights with the AV-8B Harrier May 6 and received its first two F-35B aircraft May 9," a June 28 Marine Corps statement reads. "The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is a supersonic, multi-role, multi-service aircraft that represents a quantum leap in air dominance capability. It combines next-generation fighter characteristics of radar evading stealth, supersonic speed, fighter agility and advanced logistical support with the most powerful and comprehensive integrated sensor package of any fighter aircraft in history to provide unprecedented lethality and survivability."