MCAS Iwakuni Continues to Strengthen Marine Corps Aviation in the Pacific with F-35B
The U.S. Marine Corps’ Marine Air Group 12 (MAG-12) recently declared Full Operational Capability (FOC) of VMFA-242 last month, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. This is a monumental event for the air group, which redesignated the ‘Bats’ as an F-35B squadron on October 16, 2020.
MCAS Iwakuni has been home to the Marine Corps’ forward-based fifth-gen aviation since 2017, following the relocation of VMFA-121 ‘Green Knights’ to Iwakuni from MCAS Yuma. VMFA-121 began its F-35 transition in early 2012 following the announcement of its redesignation from VMFA (All Weather)-121 to VMFA-121. The squadron was the Corps’ first operational F-35 squadron and was previously equipped with the F/A-18C/D Hornet. VMFA-242, like its sister squadron, recently began its transition from F/A-18C/D Hornets, which the squadron has been flying since 1990. The FOC milestone for VMFA-242 will bring the number of fifth-gen airframes in MCAS Iwakuni to 32, further enhancing the combat capabilities of the Marine Corps in the Indo-Pacific.
VMFA-121 and VMFA-242 have been instrumental in fleshing out the Concepts of Operations (CONOPs) for the Marine Corps’ “lightning carrier” concept. The concept, which is spearheaded by the Marines, pairs more F-35Bs with the USS America-class amphibious assault ships. A contingent of pilots and maintainers from VMFA-121 supported early demonstrations of the concept on USS America (LHA-6) in 2016, paving the way for follow-on demos by other units in 2018 and 2019, with the USS America having more than a dozen F-35Bs onboard for the latter.
The latest iteration of the Lightning Carrier concept involves the USS Tripoli (LHA-7) which took aboard 20 F-35Bs, the highest amount of F-35s put on a naval platform, surpassing the previous record of 18 aircraft set by the HMS Queen Elizabeth during its historic CSG21 deployment which also involved Marine Corps F-35Bs from VMFA-225. VMFA-221 embarked its F-35Bs on the USS Tripoli alongside VMFA-225, the amphibious ship also took aboard operational test aircraft from VMX-1.
After leaving for its solo deployment to the 7th Fleet area of operations, the ship took aboard aircraft from VMFA-121 upon its arrival in Japan. The ship and its aviation complement took part in exercise Valiant Shield 2022, where VMFA-121 deployed ashore to Guam to conduct Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations together with F-18Cs of VMFA(AW)-533. The ship is also expected to take part in exercise RIMPAC which will begin 29 June.
Beyond shaping the Marine Corps’ amphibious aviation, MCAS Iwakuni also provides combat-ready F-35Bs that can train with and integrate into allied forces in the region. Much like VMFA-225’s historic integration with the Royal Navy, VMFA-242 was involved in a similar event with Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) when aircraft from the squadron landed on the JS Izumo last year.
The declaration of FOC for VMFA-242 follows a similar trend to the Air Force’s 354th Fighter Wing, which also completed its full stand-up of two F-35A squadrons earlier this year. The Navy is also expected to bring F-35Cs from VFA-97 when the USS George Washington replaces USS Ronald Reagan as the forward-deployed carrier. These recent stand-ups of F-35 squadrons have been driven by services either retiring and transitioning from legacy aircraft or else standing up new F-35 squadrons in the region.