Head of U.S. Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Lt. Gen. Robert Walsh, told reporters that USS Essex and USS Wasp will be deploying to the Middle East next year and both ships will have the F-35B aboard.
By U.S. Navy Photo By Mass Communication Specialist First Class Tommy Lamkin [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
USS Wasp will be the first to deploy to Central Command with six F-35Bs, this will be repeated by USS Essex about eight months later.