The U.S. Marine Corps has declared the F-35B Lightning II fighter jet – powered by an engine from East Hartford manufacturer Pratt & Whitney – ready for combat.
The Marines’ declaration on Friday makes the Corps the first military branch in history to become operational with a jet powered by next-generation F135 engine. The U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy also have fighter jets powered by the engine, as do the militaries of American allies around the globe.
The F-35 is meant to replace the existing generation of fighters currently in combat. For the Marines, that is the AV-8B Harrier, the F/A-18 Hornet and the EA-6B Prowler.
The Marines’ version of the F-35 gives the plane vertical lift capabilities.
A Marine Fighter Attack Squadron in Arizona will be the first to operate the fighter. The corps has trained 50 pilots and 500 support personnel on the F-35B.
