According to the U.S. Marine Corps 2026 aviation plan, released in February 2026, the service will have received 205 F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing variants and 56 carrier-capable F-35C stealth fighter jets by the end of this year, bringing the total fleet to 261 aircraft. These jets support 14 operational fleet squadrons, developmental and operational test units, two F-35B Fleet Replacement Squadrons on the East and West Coasts, and an F-35C Fleet Replacement Squadron detachment. The document underscores an accelerated shift toward fifth-generation airpower, positioning the F-35 as the central element of U.S. Marine Corps tactical aviation modernization and expeditionary warfare strategy. Read full Defense Aerospace News at this link …
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| U.S. Marine Corps F-35B and F-35C Lightning II aircraft illustrate the service’s expanding fifth generation fleet, which will reach 205 F-35Bs and 56 F-35Cs by the end of 2026 under the 2026 Aviation Plan and TACAIR Transition Plan. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War) |
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