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F-35C deployed in combat for the first time
The F-35C, the Joint Strike Fighter variant conceived for Navy carrier operations, was recently deployed in combat for the first time during an operation targeting Houthi-controlled sites in Yemen.
In fact, between Nov. 9 and 10 US Marine Corps (USMC) F-35C Lightning II strike fighters belonging to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 (VMFA-314) “Black Knights” deployed aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) in the US Navy’s 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR) took part in the strike along with other assets including the F/A-18F Super Hornet, and the EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft.
Since the F-35C has not engaged in active combat until now, this Black Knights’ deployment is a historic first for the carrier variant of the Lightning II, The EurAsian Times noted. The F-35C is the last model of the Lightning II series—following the A and B variants—to debut in combat operations.
F-35C deployed in combat against Houthi Facilities
According to the USCENTCOM press release, US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces executed a series of precise airstrikes on multiple Houthi weapons storage facilities situated within Houthi-controlled territories in Yemen, Nov. 9-10. These facilities housed a variety of advanced conventional weapons used by the Iran-backed Houthis to target US and international military and civilian vessels navigating international waters in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The operation involved US Air Force and US Navy assets to include the F-35C.
This targeted operation was conducted in response to the Houthi’s repeated and unlawful attacks on international commercial shipping, as well as US, coalition, and merchant vessels in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden. It also aimed to degrade the Houthi’s ability to threaten regional partners.
Additionally, US Navy destroyers USS Stockdale (DDG 106), USS Spruance (DDG 111), along with US Air Force and US Navy aircraft successfully defeated a range of Houthi-launched weapons while transiting the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. These forces successfully engaged and defeated eight one-way attack uncrewed aerial systems (OWA UAS), five anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs), and four anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs), ensuring the safety of the ships and their personnel.
There were no injuries or damage to US personnel or equipment. These actions reflect the ongoing commitment of CENTCOM forces to protect US personnel, regional partners, and international shipping, while maintaining security and stability in the region.
VMFA-314
The VMFA-314 Black Knight’s history began with its commissioning in 1943 at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, as the “Bob’s Cats.” In 1952, they were the first squadron in 3rd MAW to transition to jet aircraft and fly the F-9F Panther, in 1957, they officially became the “Black Knights” with the arrival of the F-4D Skyray. In October 1961, the “Black Knights” were the first Marine Corps squadron to transition to the F-4B Phantom and in 1982, the first in the Department of the Navy to fly the F/A-18 Hornet.
The “Black Knights” have proven themselves time and again from campaigns in the South Pacific to the Vietnam War and from Operation El Dorado Canyon to the Global War on Terror.
On Jan. 21, 2020 VMFA-314 made history when it welcomed the Marine Corps’ first F-35C Lightning II to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, on Jan. 21, 2020.
The Lightning II
The Lightning II matches 5th generation survivability with major advances in network-enabled mission systems, reliability and interoperability. It is a first-day-of-the-war fighter with the capability to dominate adversaries in the air or on the surface, while surviving the most formidable threat environments.
The F-35C is the first and world’s only long-range stealth strike fighter designed and built explicitly for Navy carrier operations. It’s configuration, embedded sensors, internal fuel and weapons capacity, aligned edges, and state of the art manufacturing processes all contribute to the F-35’s unique Very Low Observable stealth performance. This enables pilots to evade enemy detection and operate in anti-access and contested environments, improving lethality and survivability.
The 5th generation F-35 Lightning II integrates advanced stealth technology into a highly agile, supersonic aircraft that provides the pilot with unprecedented situational awareness and unmatched lethality and survivability.
Photo credit: 1stLt. Charles Allen / U.S. Marine Corps
