Marines Archives

NAWCAD achieves fifth-generation integration milestone with F-35 and F-22 Joint Training

Posted on April 2, 2025April 2, 2025 by alert5

In a significant advancement for U.S. joint military operations, Marine Corps F-35 and Air Force F-22 pilots trained together for the first time in the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division’s (NAWCAD) Joint Simulation Environment (JSE) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River during the last week of March 2025.

U.S. Navy’s KC-130T expands mission with new tanker recipients

Posted on February 28, 2025 by alert5

The U.S. Navy Reserve’s KC-130T Hercules fleet, upgraded with the NP2000 propeller system, is now cleared to aerially refuel a significantly wider range of aircraft across the carrier airwing following envelope expansion testing at the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) which concluded in early 2025.

Continue reading “U.S. Navy’s KC-130T expands mission with new tanker recipients”

A quick dive into the U.S. Marine Corps 2025 Aviation Plan

Posted on February 4, 2025February 4, 2025 by alert5

The United States Marine Corps is undergoing a significant transformation of its aviation assets, as detailed in the recently released 2025 Marine Aviation Plan. The plan aims to maintain a lethal and responsive Aviation Combat Element (ACE) by transitioning to an all-5th generation tactical aircraft fleet and modernising all other aspects of the ACE. The plan encompasses a wide range of updates across fixed-wing, tiltrotor, rotary-wing, unmanned, and support aircraft, each playing a crucial role in the Corps’ future warfighting capabilities.

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314 declares their initial operational capability (IOC) for the F-35C Lightning II, having met the standards set forth by Headquarters Marine Corps. IOC declaration marks a significant accomplishment for VMFA-314 of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) that further enables 3rd MAW to support the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Juan Anaya)

LJDAM integration on F-35 progresses with successful dual external release

Posted on February 3, 2025February 3, 2025 by alert5

The F-35’s United Operational Test Team has successfully conducted the first ever dual, external release of a GBU-54 Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition (LJDAM) from an F-35. This successful test, which took place at Edwards Air Force Base, California, marks a critical milestone in integrating the LJDAM across all variants of the 5th-generation fighter.

Photo: U.S. Air Force
Continue reading “LJDAM integration on F-35 progresses with successful dual external release”

3d Marine Littoral Regiment unleashes MADIS in live-fire exercise

Posted on January 27, 2025 by alert5

The U.S. Marine Corps’ 3d Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR) has executed a successful live-fire exercise of the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS), conducted at the Pohakuloa Training Area on Jan. 25. This event, marking the first live-fire of MADIS on a Hawaiian island since its introduction in December, underscores a critical step in the Corps’ Force Design modernisation efforts.