The U.S. Navy has approved a $17.45 million contract extension to continue modernizing the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) for sustained F-35B operations, reinforcing the Marine Corps’ shift toward fifth-generation expeditionary air power and “Lightning Carrier” concepts. Announced on May 22, 2026, the work extends a broader maintenance and upgrade effort at Norfolk through 2028 and is designed to keep the ship combat-ready into the next decade while expanding its role in distributed maritime and sea-control operations. Read full defense news at this link...
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| The modernization package is heavily centered on the F-35B Lightning II, as its vertical landing profiles impose significantly greater thermal stress on amphibious assault ship flight decks compared with AV-8B Harrier II operations. (Picture source: US Navy) |