220526-N-XN177-1148 PACIFIC OCEAN (May 26, 2022) An F-35B Lightning II aircraft assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 lands aboard amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7), May 26, 2022. Tripoli is conducting routine operations in U.S. 7th Fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Peter Burghart)
FLIGHT DECK U.S. Marine Corps photo by Seaman Maci Sternod/Released 220331-N-CM110-1149.JPG APR 11, 2022 An F-35B Lightning II aircraft attached to Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 takes off aboard amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli, Mar. 31. VMX-1 is embarked aboard Tripoli as part of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Lightning carrier concept demonstration. The Lightning carrier concept demonstration shows Tripoli and other amphibious assault ships are capable of operating as dedicated fixed-wing carrier platforms, capable of bringing fifth generation Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing aircraft wherever they are required.
201010-M-MS099-374 A Marine with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 conducts pre-flight checks on an F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth in the North Sea on Oct. 10, 2020. VMFA-211 is an F-35B Lightning II squadron assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. Its mission is to intercept and destroy enemy aircraft under all weather conditions and attack and destroy surface targets in support of Fleet Marine Expeditionary Forces.
211006-M-MS099-603 SOUTH CHINA SEA ((Oct. 6, 2021) U.S. Marine Capt Craig Turner with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211, accelerates an F-35B Lightning II on the flight deck of the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) in the South China Sea, Oct. 6, 2021. VMFA-211 is currently deployed with the United Kingdom?s Carrier Strike Group 21. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Zachary Bodner)
Test flight completed after F-35B modifications A Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II completes its first short takeoff and vertical landing check flight at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, June 18, 2015. The aircraft was undergoing a functional check flight following modifications at the Ogden Air Logistics Complex. (U.S. Air Force photo/Alex R. Lloyd)
TO THE SKY U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Samuel Ruiz/Released 220407-M-GQ845-1040.JPG APR 11, 2022 Amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli, departs Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., April 7, 2022. Tripoli completed flight deck operations with 20 F-35B Lightning II jets from Marine Fighter Attack Squadrons 211 and 225, Marine Aircraft Group 13, and 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, as well as Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 1, as part of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Lightning carrier concept demonstration. The Lightning carrier concept demonstration shows Tripoli and other amphibious assault ships are capable of operating as dedicated fixed-wing strike platforms when needed, capable of bringing fifth generation Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing aircraft wherever they are required.
211108-N-ZW128-1405 GULF OF OMAN (Nov. 8, 2021) An F-35B Lightning II attached to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211, deployed with the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08), takes off from the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) during an interoperability exercise with Queen Elizabeth, Nov. 8, 2021. Essex and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Wesley Richardson)
210618-M-MS099-978 U.S. 6TH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS (June 18, 2021) A U.S. Marine assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 21, launches an F-35B Lightning II from the flight deck of the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (R 08) in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations on June 18, 2021. Alongside the United Kingdom?s 617 Squadron, VMFA-211 is conducting combat sorties in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), the first combat operations launched from Queen Elizabeth. OIR is the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria and the wider international community. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Zachary Bodner)
220610-M-BH827-1145 PHILIPPINE SEA (June 10, 2022) U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 approach the amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7), while underway, June 10, 2022. Marines with VMFA-121, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, are conducting flight operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jackson Ricker)
F-35B lands aboard USS Tripoli An F-35B Lightning II aircraft attached to Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron (VMX) 1 lands aboard amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7), Mar. 31. VMX-1 is embarked aboard Tripoli as part of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Lightning carrier concept demonstration. The Lightning carrier concept demonstration shows Tripoli and other amphibious assault ships are capable of operating as dedicated fixed-wing carrier platforms, capable of bringing fifth generation Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing aircraft wherever they are required. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Maci Sternod)
240717-F-UT528-1005 An F-35B Lightning II assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 542, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, lands at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, July 17, 2024 to participate in Red Flag-Nellis 24-3. Red Flag provides complex-realistic scenarios concentrated on warfighting in the Indo-Pacific theater. (U.S. Air Force photo by William R. Lewis)
EXERCISE NOBLE FUSION 2022 U.S. Marine Corps photo by Airman 1st Class Moses Taylor/Released 220204-F-PU391-1034.JPG FEB 4, 2022 An F-35B Lightning II from the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 gets refueled by a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 909th Air Refueling Squadron in support of Exercise Noble Fusion over the Pacific Ocean Feb. 4, 2022. Noble Fusion demonstrates that Navy and Marine Corps forward-deployed stand-in naval expeditionary forces can rapidly aggregate Marine Expeditionary Unit/Amphibious Ready Group teams at sea, along with a carrier strike group, joint forces and allies in order to conduct lethal sea-denial operations, seize key maritime terrain, guarantee freedom of movement, and create advantage for U.S., partner and allied forces. Naval Expeditionary forces conduct training in the Indo-Pacific throughout the year to maintain readiness.