US test LAC concept

In April 2022, the US will test Lightning Aircraft Carrier (LAC) concept when three US Marine Corps (USMC) F-35B Lightning II squadrons will embark the USS Tripoli (LHA-7). The LAC concept was first presented by the USMC in their 2017 Marine Aviation Plan and finds its origin in the period when AV-8 Harriers operated from Amphibious Assault Ships.

In the test, a total of twenty F-35B Lightning IIs will conduct operations in various scenarios from the USS Tripoli. The squadrons that will form the nucleus of the twenty aircraft are Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron (VMX) 1 Mihi Cura Futuri ('MV-5x'), Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211 Wake Island Avengers ('CF-xx') and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225 Vikings ('CE-xx') all from Yuma MCAS (AZ).

Back in 2019, the US Navy and USMC tested the Lightning Carrier concept of packing an amphibious assault ship with F-35Bs. An image showed the crammed flight deck of the USS America (LHA-6) with thirteen F-35Bs and one MH-60S stowed in front of the bridge. Like their counterparts, the USS America and the USS Tripoli do not have a floodable well deck. Instead, they were built with extra space to support aircraft like the F-35B and all that goes with them, such as fuel, maintenance people, space and equipment, and ammunition.

Lightning carriers will provide a significant potential to expand naval firepower. The amphibious assault ships could be incorporated into carrier task forces to boost airpower, or they might be deployed in separate amphibious readiness groups to disperse the force for increased survivability and lethality.

Photo by US Navy