Originally posted by Lone_Wolf:
IIRC the first "deployed" squadron will be in Iwakuni Japan (forward deployed is a term of art in the USN for forces based out of the US) and their acid test will of course be: when will your det embark on an amphib and hit the mil exercise and collective training circuit?
These are the requirements to be met and completion dates which have been provided to the United States Congress regarding IOC for the F-35B. I believe this information is legally required to be submitted to Congress by the DoD. Do you think IOC will be declared in July by the DoD and the Navy Secretary in July as they have been advertising?
United States Marine Corps F-35B IOC Date and Capabilities:
Marine Corps F-35B IOC shall be declared when the first operational squadron is trained, manned, and equipped to conduct CAS, Offensive and Defensive Counter Air, Air Interdiction, Assault Support Escort, and Armed Reconnaissance in concert with Marine Air Ground Task Force resources and capabilities. The F-35B shall have the ability to conduct operational missions utilizing SDD program of record weapons and mission systems. The aircraft will be in a Block 2B configuration with the requisite SDD performance envelope and weapon clearances. The first Marine Corps F-35B operational squadron shall have 10-16 primary aircraft and shall be capable of deploying and performing its assigned mission(s). Support and sustainment elements shall include spares, support equipment, tools, technical publications, training programs and devices, and Autonomic Logistic Information System V2.
Marine Corps IOC is capability based and will be declared when the above conditions are met. If the F-35 IMS Version 7 executes according to plan, Marine Corps F-35B IOC criteria could be met between July 2015 (Objective) and December 2015 (Threshold). Should capability delivery experience additional changes, this estimate will be revised appropriately.
The criteria stated above will provide sufficient initial combat capability for the threat postulated in 2015. However, in order to meet the full spectrum of Joint warfighter requirements in future years, the Marine Corps will require enhanced lethality and survivability inherent in Blocks 3F and beyond.