ARLINGTON, Va. — The Marine Corps plans to activate another KC-130J Super Hercules tanker/transport squadron as part of its aim to provide increased mobility of Marine Corps forces in the Pacific area of responsibility in support of Force Design 2030. …
Marine Corps Aviation Plan Reduces Number of F-35s in Some Squadrons, Keeps 420 F-35s Total
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Marine Corps plans to reduce the number of F-35 Lightning II strike fighters planned for some Marine fighter attack squadrons but is not reducing the program or record of 420 F-35s. In the 2022 Marine Corps…
Surge Deployment of U.S. 2nd Fleet Destroyers Seen as OFRP, Agile C2 Success
ARLINGTON, Va. — The recent surge of several guided-missile destroyers from the U.S East Coast to the North Atlantic Ocean and Baltic and North Seas was a successful demonstration of the flexibility of geographic command relationships and of the value…
CNO: Thinking on Unmanned Systems Changed by Experimentation
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy’s top officer said his thinking about integrating unmanned systems into the fleet has been changed by the observations of the service’s recent experimentation during fleet exercises. “We are learning so fast in fielding these capabilities…
Navy Proposes Conversion of 2 Active P-8 Squadrons to Reserve
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy proposes to shift two P-8A Poseidon patrol (VP) squadrons from the active component to the reserve component in 2026, budget documents show. The Navy’s 2023 budget highlights book published this month shows a proposal…
Navy to Adjust F/A-18 Service Life Modernization as Needed to Address Strike Fighter Shortfall
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy is planning to use a “rheostat” approach to adjust the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighter Service Life Modernization (SLM) program to mitigate the strike fighter shortfall in the fleet, a senior service official said. The…
Navy Proposes Divestment of Special Ops Helicopter Squadron
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy is proposing to retire its only expeditionary helicopter squadron dedicated to support of special operations forces with the service’s 2023 budget request. Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 85 (HSC-85), a reserve squadron based at Naval…
Marine Corps’ New VH-92 Presidential Helicopter Achieves Initial Operational Capability
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Marine Corps’ VH-92A presidential support helicopter has achieved initial operational capability, according to the Department of the Navy. The VH-92A, built by Lockheed Martin, has been going through testing and crew training and achieved IOC on…
Marine Corps Deactivates Two Helo Squadrons, One Temporarily
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Marine Corps has deactivated two helicopter squadrons in its march toward Force Design 2030, but one of the squadrons will be reactivated later this year, the service said. Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 (HMH-463) —…
Marine Corps’ King Stallion Ready to Run
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Marine Corps’ new CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter achieved initial operational capability on April 22, Deputy Commandant for Aviation Lt. Gen. Mark Wise said in an April 25 release. The first fleet CH-53K squadron, HMH-461, now…
