The U.S. Marines may get some carrier-borne F-35Cs with their short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing F-35Bs, a senior U.S. Navy aviation official said March 3.
The Marine Corps will start flying F-35Bs from amphibious assault ships in 2012, according to a Navy official. The Navy Department is considering giving the Corps some of the catapult-ready F-35Cs so they can fly from aircraft carriers. (Andy Wolfe / Lockheed Martin)
The Navy Department, which is planning to buy a total of 680 Lockheed Martin Lightning II strike fighters for the two services, has not yet decided how many of each variant will go to each branch, said Rear Adm. David "Deke" Philman, the Navy staff's air warfare director.
Right now, the Marines are to start flying F-35Bs from amphibious assault ships in 2012, Philbin said.
Department officials are considering giving the Corps some of the catapult-ready F-35Cs so they can fly from aircraft carriers, he said.
"The question of the mix is, 'Will the Marines fly tailhook versions'" or even B-models from conventional aircraft carriers, Philman said during a speech in Arlington, Va.
After the speech, he told reporters that the Navy is looking at "what is the requirement for the Navy, what is the requirement for the Marine Corps and how does that fit into the greater DON [Department of the Navy] construct."
Recent trouble with the entire F-35 program has led the sea service to re-evaluate the planned initial operational capability date of 2014, Philman said.
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