Breaking news
USS Wasp to Become First Ship to Deploy with an Embarked F-35B Squadron.
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USS Wasp F-35B Operations
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The F-35B is the world’s first supersonic short take-off, vertical landing (STOVL) fighter and is set to become the new standard across the amphibious fleet eventually replacing the AV-8B Harrier and F/A-18 Hornet. STOVL aircraft are fixed-wing aircraft that are able to take off from a short runway and land vertically like a helicopter. They can also take off vertically if they don’t have a heavy payload.
The STOVL capability of F-35B provides forward-deployed combatant commanders with more flexible basing options. In particular, when this aircraft deploys from LHDs, or America class LHAs, squadrons will be able to reach targets inaccessible from shore-based runways. Which is to say that if the target is too far away by flight alone commanders have the option to move a U.S. Navy Surface Force ship closer via sea and then launch aircraft to the target from there. |
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“[Wasp’s homeport shift] ensures that our most technologically-advanced air warfare platforms are forward deployed,” said Wasp Commanding Officer Capt. Andrew Smith. “Our capabilities, paired with the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter, increases our Navy’s precision strike capabilities within the 7th Fleet region. Wasp will help America’s commitment to the maritime security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific.”
Together forward-deployed amphibious ships like Wasp and embarked Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU) like that of their 31st MEU, will form U.S. Pacific Command‘s premier crisis response force. Together, the U.S. Navy-Marine Corps team has the capability to conduct stability operations or deliver disaster relief at a moment’s notice. |
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