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Category: Marines

VMFA-211 traveled to Florida to fire air-to-air missiles

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A U.S. Marine F-35 Lightning II from the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211 speeds down the runway during a 53rd Weapon Evaluation Group, Weapon System Evaluation Program at the Tyndall flightline Sept. 16, 2016. During this WSEP, VMFA 211 completed numerous sorties including the one that fired the first operational F-35 AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Solomon Cook/Released)
A U.S. Marine F-35 Lightning II from the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211 speeds down the runway during a 53rd Weapon Evaluation Group, Weapon System Evaluation Program at the Tyndall flightline Sept. 16, 2016. During this WSEP, VMFA 211 completed numerous sorties including the one that fired the first operational F-35 AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Solomon Cook/Released)

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VFA-147 will be the first operational F-35C squadron

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The U.S. Navy has identified VFA-147 as the first squadron to transition to the F-35C in 2018. The announcement was made on Sept. 10 at the annual Tailhook Association convention in Reno, Nevada.

F-18E of VFA-147 lands on USS Nimitz (CVN-68) in 2013
By U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Kelly M. Agee [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
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U.S. Marines to practice seizing airfield on Tinian during Valiant Shield

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The biennial exercise Valiant Shield kicks off today and the U.S. Marines will take the opportunity to practice seizing and defending the airfield on the island of Tinian.

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Johnston Murn, a low altitude air defense gunner with 3rd LAAD Battalion unit deployment program, uses a Stinger missile tracking and handling trainer on a Sikorsky MH-60S Seahawk with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 during Exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, July 28, 2016. Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, received assistance throughout the exercise from Combat Logistics Company 36 from MCAS Iwakuni, the Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion and Marine Air Traffic Control Mobile Team from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and HSC-25 from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson)
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Johnston Murn, a low altitude air defense gunner with 3rd LAAD Battalion unit deployment program, uses a Stinger missile tracking and handling trainer on a Sikorsky MH-60S Seahawk with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 during Exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, July 28, 2016. Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, received assistance throughout the exercise from Combat Logistics Company 36 from MCAS Iwakuni, the Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion and Marine Air Traffic Control Mobile Team from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and HSC-25 from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson)

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USMC to deploy F-35Bs on HMS Queen Elizabeth in 2021

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During a press conference with his American counterpart Ash Carter, U.K. Secretary of State for Defence Michael Fallon announced on Sept. 7 that the U.S. Marine Corps will deploy its F-35Bs on board British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth in 2021.

HMS Queen Elizabeth in Rosyth Dockyard MOD 45158230
See page for author [OGL], via Wikimedia Commons
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