Navy's F-35C on Track to Be Combat Ready Next Month
The U.S. Navy is on track to reach critical milestones and declare its F-35 Joint Strike Fighters ready for combat next month.
There have been no reported delays in the service's F-35C reaching initial operating capability (IOC) next month, Navy spokeswoman Lt. Lauren Chatmas told Military.com on Friday.
The Joint Strike Fighter Fleet Integration Office "is confident in meeting milestones as planned," Chatmas said.
While no official February date has been announced, the work "is still on target, still proceeding as planned," she said.
Last month, the Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 "Argonauts" out of Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, completed a critical milestone aboard the USS Carl Vinson, a turning point in reaching IOC for the Navy's stealth jet.
The "Argonauts" are slated to become the service's first operational F-35C squadron. Once IOC ready, VFA-147's first deployment is scheduled aboard the Vinson in 2021.