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Naval
Forces News - USA |
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Six US Marine Corps F-35B Fighters Started Operational Trials On Board
USS WASP |
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Six
U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II jet aircraft arrived Monday evening
aboard the USS WASP off the coast of the United States’ Eastern
Seaboard to mark the beginning of the first shipboard phase of the F-35B
Operational Test (OT-1).
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FILE PICTURE: ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug. 14, 2013) An F-35B Lightning II aircraft
takes off from the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) during the
second at-sea F-35 developmental test event. The F-35B is the Marine
Corps variant of the joint strike fighter and is undergoing testing
aboard Wasp. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman
Michael T. Forbes II/Released)
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The at-sea
period will continue aboard USS WASP for the next two weeks, with fleet
representative aircraft and maintenance personnel from Marine Operational
Test and Evaluation Squadron 22, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121,
Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, and Marine Aviation Logistics
Squadrons 13 and 31.
OT-1 will assess the integration of the F-35B while operating across
a wide array of flight and deck operations. Specific OT-1 objectives
include demonstrating and assessing day and night flight operations
in varying aircraft configurations; digital interoperability of aircraft
and ship systems; F-35B landing signal officer's launch and recovery
software; day and night weapons loading; and all aspects of maintenance,
logistics, and sustainment support of the F-35B while deployed at sea.
Additionally, the U.S. Navy-Marine Corps team is working closely with
Naval Sea Systems Command to assess specific modifications made to USS
WASP to support future deployments. |
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FILE PICTURE: F-35B BF-02 about to land on USS Wasp (picture: US Navy)
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“The
F-35 Lightning II is the most versatile, agile and technologically-advanced
aircraft in the skies today, enabling our Corps to be the nation’s
force in readiness, regardless of the threat, and regardless of the
location of the battle,” said Lt. Gen. Jon Davis, the Deputy Commandant
for Marine Corps Aviation. “As we modernize our fixed-wing aviation
assets for the future, the continued development and fielding of the
short take-off and vertical landing, the F-35B remains the centerpiece
of this effort.”
Data collected and lessons learned during OT-1 will lay the groundwork
for F-35B deployments aboard U.S. Navy amphibious carriers following
the Marine Corps’ F-35B initial operating capability declaration
planned for this coming July. |
