US Marine Corps F-35s Are Heading to the Middle East
US Marine Corps F-35s Are Heading to the Middle East
The F-35A and F-35C are conducting strikes on Iran as part of Operation Epic Fury—joined by Israel’s domestic F-35I Adir variant.
The capabilities of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II in the ongoing Operation Epic Fury airstrikes on Iran can’t be overstated—even as one conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) F-35A was hit by ground fire, necessitating its emergency landing earlier this month. The fifth-generation stealth fighters can evade modern anti-aircraft systems and penetrate deep into Iranian territory, where the aircraft continue to neutralize threats.
In addition to the United States Air Force’s land-based F-35As and the Israeli Air Force’s (IAF’s) F-35I Adir, a full squadron of the carrier-based F-35C aircraft on the US Navy’s nuclear-powered supercarrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) are also taking part in the fight—specifically Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 (VMFA-314), the “Black Knights.”
Additional USMC F-35Cs could soon be deployed to the region, arriving in the coming days. At least 10 F-35Cs attached to VMFA-311 “Tomcats” arrived at Royal Air Force (RAF) Lakenheath in the United Kingdom earlier this month. Images of the first five of the nearly dozen aircraft had been shared on social media.
The aircraft, which flew to the UK from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, are reportedly being deployed to undisclosed bases in the Middle East, marking their first land-based combat deployment.
Two of the Three F-35 Variants Are Working Together
The F-35A and the F-35C are essentially the same in terms of dimensions and capabilities, which should come as little surprise given their substantial design overlap. The F-35C is marginally lighter and faster, given its larger wingspan, which could make it better suited as a training aircraft for novice pilots and for testing new weapons.
The F-35C was designed to operate from carriers and is considered the most rugged and structurally robust variant of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) family of fifth-generation stealth aircraft. It features a reinforced airframe and heavy-duty landing gear.
“The F-35C needed to be more durable than its fellow variants as life at sea subjects an airframe to saltwater, high wings, and catapult shots/cable landings, which are a brutal combination,” explained Harrison Kass for The National Interest. “The F-35 received coatings, materials, and seals designed to resist corrosion. At the same time, the arresting hook bulkhead was built with strengthened alloys, and the internal structures were braced for repeated high-load cycles.”
F-35A vs. F-35C: A Head-to-Head Comparison
| Aircraft | F-35A (US Air Force) | F-35C (US Navy) |
| Year Introduced | 2015 | 2019 |
| Number Built | 500+ | ~150 |
| Length | 51 ft 4 in (15.7 m) | 51 ft 6 in (15.7 m) |
| Wingspan | 35 ft (10.7 m) | 43 ft (13.1 m) |
| Weight (MTOW) | 70,000 lb (31,800 kg) | 70,000 lb (31,800 kg) |
| Engines | One Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 afterburning turbofan (~43,000 lbf thrust with afterburner) | One Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-400 afterburning turbofan (~43,000 lbf thrust with afterburner) |
| Top Speed | Mach 1.6 (~1,200 mph, 1,930 km/h) | Mach 1.6 (~1,200 mph, 1,930 km/h) |
| Range | ~1,200 nmi (1,380 mi, 2,220 km) with internal fuel | ~1,200 nmi (1,380 mi, 2,220 km) with internal fuel |
| Service Ceiling | 50,000 ft (15,240 m) | 50,000 ft (15,240 m) |
| Loadout | One GAU-22/A 25 mm rotary cannon (internal on F-35A only). Internal bays, up to 4 × AIM-120 AMRAAMs or 2 bombs + 2 AMRAAMs. External hardpoints, up to 18,000 lb (8,160 kg) of ordnance (compromises stealth) | Internal bays, up to 18,000 lb (8,200 kg) of ordnance across two bays, 6 external pylons (when stealth not prioritized), for additional bombs, missiles, or fuel tanks |
| Aircrew | 1 | 1 |
The F-35B Could Soon Join the Iran War, Too
At present, there have been no confirmed combat deployments involving the F-35B, the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the multirole Joint Strike Fighter, but some could soon join the carrier-based and CTOL versions. USMC F-35Bs are on the forward-deployed America-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA-7), which docked at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean earlier this week.
Once USS Tripoli arrives in the region, it won’t fill the same role as the departed USS Gerald R. Ford, which retired from combat earlier this month after a destructive shipboard fire. The Tripoli’s mission is unclear at present.
The US Navy’s amphibious assault ships serve as the flagship of an expeditionary strike group or amphibious ready group. USS Tripoli is reported to be carrying elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), a rapid-response force of 2,200 personnel based on Okinawa, Japan.
A second amphibious assault ship, the Wasp-class USS Boxer (LHD-4), has also deployed with the 11th MEU from San Diego and is believed to be heading to the Middle East. LHD-4 also operates with the F-35B.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.
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