Marines still targeting 2030 for Hornet replacement, despite F-35 delays

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, California—Whereas Marines wait for brand spanking new F-35s, officers say current supply delays have not altered their aim to completely swap to the fifth-generation stealth fighter jet by the tip of the last decade. 

The service is changing its growing older F/A-18 Hornets with F-35s, a large effort sophisticated by a year-long pause in deliveries of the most recent model of the jet. 

“It isn’t gonna occur all in a single day, however proper now, I feel the forecast nonetheless has us finishing it in 2030,” mentioned Col. William Mitchell, commanding officer of Marine Plane Group 11, which incorporates two F-35C squadrons, an F-35B coaching squadron, two F/A-18C squadrons, and a KC-130 aerial refueling squadron.

However for that plan to work, Lockheed Martin wants to complete clearing a backlog of deliveries attributable to technology-development issues that led the Pentagon to cease accepting the plane for a yr. In July, Lockheed acquired the inexperienced mild to renew deliveries with out the total model of the improve, dubbed Expertise Refresh-3. 

“We want Lockheed Martin to ship the jets, and we have to proceed to acquire them, however on paper, that’s what the plan is correct now,” Mitchell mentioned.

The delays have brought about some “nuances” to the schedule however received’t essentially have a “ripple impact” that may lengthen the general transition, Mitchell mentioned. The Marines’ second F-35C squadron, VMFA-311, was speculated to have all 10 of its F-35s months in the past, however is presently quick 4. The squadron doubtless received’t get its first TR-3 jet till Might, however the precise date remains to be up within the air. 

“It is an impression, simply that now we have fewer jets to fly…however no deployment has been held up. They’ve nonetheless been in a position to fly their six plane and get a variety of nice coaching and do a variety of nice occasions with what they’ve,” he mentioned. 

Regardless of software-development issues with TR-3, the software program VMFA-311 is flying with now could be strong, Mitchell mentioned. “The jets that we fly right here, no points, other than any anomaly you would possibly get in any plane, but it surely’s very reliable, very resilient. However clearly within the take a look at world, I can not actually converse to that. That is the place the delays appear to be.”

Finally, the 2 remaining F/A-18 squadrons will grow to be F-35 squadrons, and MAG-11 may have 4 F-35C squadrons, Mitchell mentioned, along with its F-35B coaching squadron and KC-130 squadron. The Marine Corps additionally plans to extend the variety of F-35s per squadron from 10 to 12, however that doubtless received’t occur till the early 2030s, he mentioned. 

Underneath the service’s 2022 aviation plan, the Marines plan to purchase a complete of 67 F-35Cs and 353 F-35Bs, at a price of roughly 20 plane per yr. The service has but to launch its new aviation plan, which was speculated to be revealed by the tip of 2024. 

Mitchell hasn’t seen the brand new doc but, however mentioned he doesn’t assume a lot has modified within the F-35 transition plan “apart from some delays in squadrons which are standing up because of the TR-3 delays.”

Within the coming years, all F/A-18 infrastructure will grow to be F-35 infrastructure, and three new hangars shall be constructed right here at Miramar to help the brand new squadrons. Within the meantime, Marine aviators and maintainers have began to modify to the brand new jet, and extra Marines will transfer over as soon as the Hornet squadrons sunset. 

“Marines shall be up for reenlistment, after which they will put in a reenlistment [lateral] transfer package deal after which, the subsequent month, they’re at college to discover ways to work on the F-35. In order that occurs all through the course of a yr. Similar factor with the pilots: they will put in a package deal to transition to an F-35 and there’s a board course of for that, and in order that’s managed by Headquarters Marine Corps Manpower,” he mentioned. 

Whereas the service prepares for its future fleet, it’s squeezing all of the life out of its remaining Hornets. The F/A-18s are getting a model of RTX’s APG-79 energetic electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, which is already in service on the Navy’s F/A-18E/Fs. The service is about midway by the radar set up, which can convey a ton of latest functionality to the Hornets, Mitchell mentioned. 

The F/A-18s are additionally getting beyond-line-of-sight reception for communications, and an upgraded GPS system, Mitchell mentioned. “There’s some upgraded navigation, however there’s actually type of not an entire lot extra we will do, however the place we will, we’re.”

The Hornet squadrons have loved excessive readiness charges, regardless of their age, because the squadron can take elements from retiring plane,  Mitchell mentioned. 

“As we transition to the F-35, we’ve been in a position to take the very best jets that now we have with probably the most life on them, after which place them in our operational squadrons, and harvest a variety of elements from the plane that have been going to be retired. So the provision system may be very wholesome within the F-18, pilots are getting a variety of flight hours within the F-18. The readiness is a few of the greatest I’ve seen in a few years,” he mentioned. 

The service maintains that the Hornet is the “Swiss Military knife” of the Marine Corps air element, because the F-35 remains to be ready on some capabilities, like maritime strike. 

“There are specific maritime strike capabilities that the F-18 have that are not mature but within the F-35 so, we’re principally assist one another out, whereas the F-35 is extra survivable in INDOPACOM towards a few of the superior threats that our adversaries have than the F-18, to allow them to push in somewhat bit additional and assist mitigate a few of these threats, to permit the F-18s to make use of their techniques,” Mitchell mentioned.