Number of USMC F-35s per VMFA squadron to be reduced
According to the FY2022 Marine Corps Aviation Plan (MCAP) that has been released in the first week of May, the United States Marine Corps (USMC) plans to reduce the number of F-35 Lightning II fighters planned for some Marine Fighter Attack squadrons but is not reducing the Programme of Record (POR) of 420 F-35s, at 353 F-35Bs and 67 F-35Cs.
In the FY2022 MCAP the USMC shows it will reduce the number of F-35Bs in some squadrons from sixteen to ten aircraft. Originally the sixteen were going to allow for a six-plane detachment on board an amphibious assault ship in addition to a ten-plane land-based force. In the current plan, all F-35B and carrier-capable F-35C squadrons will be equipped with ten aircraft. The plan for F-35 squadrons is in accord with Marine Corps Commandant David H. Berger’s Force Design 2030 plan for restructuring the Marine Corps.
According to Lt. Gen. Mark Wise, deputy commandant for aviation, the change in the numbers in the F-35 squadrons really had to do with what is the optimum way, so starting with the requirement and moving backwards. "The F-35 is designed to deploy as a division, so a squadron with ten aircraft is designed to field two divisions with two aircraft in backup,” Wise said. That way you’re deploying a whole squadron as well. You’re not leaving pieces of it behind. So, you don’t have a command element that’s got to go to one side or go to the other side."
Keeping the total number of aircraft at 420 has all to do with the USMC attrition model, according to Lt. Gen. Mark Wise. That model was truncated in order to meet affordability concerns. Taking the attrition model and expand it back to the numbers for the eighteen active and two reserve squadrons, this number actually ends up being the POR.
The USMC intends to upgrade all of its existing F/A-18 Hornet-equipped Marine fighter attack (VMFA) squadrons and convert the remaining AV-8B Harrier II Marine attack (VMA) squadrons to VMFAs. Two more squadrons — one a reserve unit — will be reactivated, while another will be deactivated for about four years and will be reactivated as an F-35C squadron. In all, the plan has the Corps fielding fourteen active component and two FRS F-35B squadrons and four active component F-35C squadrons by fiscal 2032. The F-35C training will remain with the US Navy’s FRS, VFA-125.
The F/A-18 Hornet FRS, VMFAT-101, will be deactivated in FY 2024 and turn its training responsibilities to VMFA-323, a deploying squadron which will maintain a fleet replacement detachment until fiscal 2027.
Of the Corp’s six remaining active-component Hornet squadrons, five now fly a mix of seven single-seat F/A-18Cs and five two-seat F/A-18Ds. VMFA-323 will retain F/A-18Cs and reserve VMFA-112 will give up its last four F/A-18A++ versions to become an all “C/C+” squadron.
The existing Harrier squadrons, all based at Cherry Point MCAS (NC), now fly only the radar-equipped version of the AV-8B. One squadron, VMA-223, also runs a fleet replacement detachment that includes two-seat TAV-8Bs. The Harriers are slated to be phased out in fiscal 2027.
Overview current F-35B squadrons:
Overview current F-35C squadrons:
The six remaining active component Hornet VMFA and VMFA(AW) squadrons and Harrier VMA squadrons are:
Photo by Lance Cpl. Juan Anaya / 3rd MAW and USNI News