The first F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter assigned

The first F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 arrived at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, July 17. The aircraft is the first to join VMFAT-501 at MCAS Beaufort since relocating from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. last week.The F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter will replace the Marine Corps' aging legacy tactical fleet. In addition to replacing the F/A-18A-D Hornet, the Marine Corps will replace the AV-8B Harrier and EA-6B Prowler. The integration of the F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter into the Marine Corps' arsenal provides the dominant, multi-role, fifth-generation capabilities needed across the full spectrum of combat operations to deter potential adversaries and enable future naval aviation power projection.