LHD 6 fires Sea Sparrow during Exercise Valiant Shield

160918-N-BB269-036 PHILIPPINE SEA (Sept. 18, 2016) The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) fires a Sea Sparrow missile during a missile exercise during Valiant Shield 2016. Valiant Shield 16 is a biennial, U.S.-only, field training exercise (FTX) with a focus on integration of joint training among U.S. forces. Germantown, part of the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group with embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, is participating in Valiant Shield in an effort to increase naval integration and joint capabilities in the event of conflict, contingency, or disaster relief. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Raymond D. Diaz III/Released)
160918-N-BB269-036 PHILIPPINE SEA (Sept. 18, 2016) The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) fires a Sea Sparrow missile during a missile exercise during Valiant Shield 2016. Valiant Shield 16 is a biennial, U.S.-only, field training exercise (FTX) with a focus on integration of joint training among U.S. forces. Germantown, part of the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group with embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, is participating in Valiant Shield in an effort to increase naval integration and joint capabilities in the event of conflict, contingency, or disaster relief. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Raymond D. Diaz III/Released)

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

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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