Yuma F-35s on the move
Last weekend, 8 and 9 January 2022, was a busy one for two of the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II squadrons based at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma (AZ).
Both Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122 Flying Leathernecks ('DC-xx') and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225 Vikings ('CE-xx') went out on mini-deployments.
On Friday 7 January 2022, four F-35Bs of VMFA-122 arrived at Hill AFB (UT) for training with the F-35As of the 419th Fighter Wing, US Air Force Reserves.
On Saturday a total of eight Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) missions were flown by all four F-35Bs alongside fourteen local F-35As.The Flying Leathernecks departed Hill on Sunday morning 8 January 2022.
The four VMFA-122 F-35Bs that visited Hill AFB were: 169616/DC-03, 169697/DC-05, 169794/DC-07 and 169795/DC-08
Over at Gowen Field ANGB in Boise (ID), four F-35B Lightning IIs of VMFA-225 arrived on Friday 7 January 2022 for training with the local based A-10Cs of the 190th Fighter Squadron, Idaho ANG. It was the first time that the A-10Cs of the 190th FS had an opportunity to train with the F-35.
For VMFA-225 the training was successful for several reasons. Lt. Col. Alexander “Steamer” Goodno, Commanding Officer of VMFA-225 explains, “First was to provide exposure to operating from an unfamiliar airfield. As the Marine Corps’ newest operational F-35B squadron, we are pushing to get young pilots used to operating in and around areas where they may not be comfortable. Gowen Field provided us with exactly that: new airspace, cold weather considerations, unfamiliar area, increased likelihood of flying in and out of weather; while still satisfying many of the security requirements needed for basing the F-35B out of home station. In addition, with the 190th FS based there, it also allowed us to work 4th and 5th generation aircraft integration while leveraging the great assets available to us within the Mountain Home Range Complex.”
Lt. Col. Goodno continues, “Our training over the weekend focused on close air support (CAS) in a contested environment. Similar to the type of scenario that we will likely find ourself in when competing with a peer adversary, we trained in scenarios where surface-to-air missile systems provided prohibitive interference; requiring the suppression of enemy air defense (SEAD) capability of the F-35 to create a permissive environment whereby the A-10s were then able to take airspace authority as a forward air controller (airborne) and conduct CAS with both A10s and F-35s supporting in CAS roles. By executing a training scenario like this, we increased exposure across both the 190th FS and VMFA-225 in 4th and 5th generation integration and joint service operations; specifically the capabilities that each aircraft brings to the fight and how each service approaches a given problem set. Through mission planning, academics, flights, and debriefs, we gained significant familiarity in where we can each maximize the other’s aircraft platform so as to be a more lethal and decrease time to kill on the battle field.”
The 190th FS and VMFA-225 flew three missions together after which the Vikings returned home again on Sunday 9 January 2022.
The four VMFA-225 F-35Bs that visited Gowen Field ANGB were: 169916 (unmarked), 169609/07 (unmarked), 169296/CE-04 and 169297/CE-05
Photos by Rob van Disseldorp and 124th FW Public Affairs