For the first time, U.S. Marine Corps F-35B stealth fighters touched down at the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s Nyutabaru Base in Shintomi Town for the first time. This marks the first-ever landing of the F-35B at Nyutabaru Base, signifying a new chapter in joint training between Japan and the United States.
U.S. Congressman Jake Ellzey has recently introduced a significant bill, HR 6378, which aims to honor the bravery and sacrifice of Congressional Medal of Honor recipients. The proposed legislation, currently in the Veterans Affairs Committee, seeks to permit the remains of any Medal of Honor recipient to lie in honor in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol.
In a remarkable display of cooperation and interoperability, aviation units from the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) joined forces during the field training exercise portion of Resolute Dragon 23, held from October 14 to October 31, 2023.
A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, conducts a bilateral formation flight alongside Japan Ground Self-Defense Force AH-64 Apaches with 1st Squadron, 1st Combat Helicopter Battalion, Western Army Aviation Group, during the field training exercise portion of Resolute Dragon 23 over Kumamoto, Japan, Oct. 18, 2023. RD 23 is an annual bilateral exercise in Japan that strengthens the command, control, and multi-domain maneuver capabilities of Marines in III Marine Expeditionary Force and allied Japan Self-Defense Force personnel. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kyle Chan) Continue reading “JGSDF AH-64s practice acting as escort for USMC MV-22B”
In a landmark achievement for the F-35 Lightning II program, the final Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) event was successfully completed on September 21st. This pivotal phase of testing took place in the Joint Simulation Environment (JSE), marking a significant milestone in the development of the world’s most advanced fifth-generation fighter aircraft.
JOTT, F-35 Five Ship behind tanker, 1 F-35C, 2 F-35B, & 2 F-35A, Edwards AFB, Ca., 20 September 2019
A historic era in naval aviation came to an end as Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 (VMFAT-101), affectionately known as the “SharpShooters,” was officially deactivated during a solemn “sundowner ceremony” on Friday. The decommissioning of VMFAT-101 marks the conclusion of over 50 years of dedicated service in training pilots to fly F-4 Phantoms and, later, F/A-18 Hornets.