US Marine Corps (USMC)
Evolution of the ‘Sharpshooters’: Training USMC pilots to fly the Hornet
Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 (VMFAT-101) was formally stood down at MCAS Miramar, California, on September 29. Joe Copalman looks back at the evolution of the USMC’s iconic ‘Sharpshooters’
USMC’s legacy Hornet-equipped ‘Silver Eagles’ stand down
The USMC moved another step closer to phasing out its legacy Hornet fleet on November 9, when Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115 (VMFA-115) was deactivated at MCAS Beaufort in South Carolina
USMC’s first XQ-58A Valkyrie takes flight at Eglin AFB
The first of two XQ-58A Valkyrie UCAVs for the USMC successfully completed its first test flight at Eglin AFB, Florida, on October 2, closely followed by an F-16CM Fighting Falcon (88-0441/ET) from the 40th Flight Test Squadron – a component of the USAF’s 96th Test Wing – that was flying as the ‘chase’ aircraft
US Navy and Marine Corps aviation in World War One
A chapter from Key Publishing’s new book “Contact! Early US Naval and Marine Corps Aviation, 1911-1918” by Alan C Carey
USMC’s ‘Silver Eagles’ conclude final legacy Hornet deployment
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115 (VMFA-115) ‘Silver Eagles’ departed MCAS Iwakuni in Japan on September 28, marking the conclusion of a six-month Unit Deployment Program tour in the Indo-Pacific region with Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12)
US Marines Sharpshooters stand down
The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and Marine aircraft group MAG-11 said goodbye to Marine fighter attack training squadron VMFAT-101, when the unit was deactivated at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, on September 29, 2023.
US Navy orders more CH-53Ks for USMC and Israel
The US Navy has awarded Sikorsky a $2.7bn contract to build and deliver 35 additional CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift transport helicopters – comprising 12 Lot 7 and 15 Lot 8 aircraft for the USMC, along with a further eight examples for Israel (adding to the four announced in 2022)
USMC’s VMU-3 achieves IOC with MQ-9A
The USMC’s Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3 (VMU-3) ‘Phantoms’ celebrated reaching Initial Operational Capability with the MQ-9A Reaper medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV at MCAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, on August 4
How the F-35 has been adapted for life on US Navy supercarriers
An overview of the F-35C Carrier Variant in operation with the US Navy and US Marine Corps
USMC's 'Black Knights' carry out first trans-Pacific F-35C deployment
Four F-35C Lightning IIs from the USMC’s Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 (VMFA-314) ‘Black Knights’ at MCAS Miramar, California, recently carried out their first trans-Pacific deployment to Australia for integrated training with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).