The U.S. Marine Corps has announced it will fly 16 Lockheed Martin-made (NYSE: LMT) F-35 jets in an initial operational capability, DoD Buzz reported Wednesday.
Michael Hoffman writes USMC pilots will operate the F-35 variant designed for short takeoff and landing, intended to help hover the aircraft prior to landing.
Gen. James Amos, Marine Corps commandant, told a Brookings Institution audience Wednesday initial operating capability requires a minimum of 10 airplanes and 10 crew with training support, according to DoD Buzz.
“They’ve been trained, both the pilots and the aircrews, to do the missions of the airplane and they are ship board qualified, ” Amos said.
