East Coast Marine F-35 squadron reaches initial operational status

The Marine Corps now has its first F-35B squadron on the East Coast that has achieved initial operational capability.

That is one of many steps in the Corps’ pursuit of a fully fielded and operational F-35 fleet of aircraft by 2030.

Initial operational capability means that Marine Fighter Attack Squadron, VMFA 542, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, has enough operational F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, pilots, maintainers and equipment to self-sustain its missions, according to a Marine press release.

Those include close air support, electronic attacks, offensive anti-air warfare and strike coordination and reconnaissance for the fifth-generation fighter.